Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate the day than by engaging in simple activities your little one will LOVE? These simple, Valentine-themed activities are not only entertaining but also provide so many opportunities for kids to explore different textures, sights, and create magical moments through playtime!

These heart suncatchers are such a fun way to add festive decor all while displaying your little ones art!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Paper plate
• Tissue paper
• Contact paper (clear tape is also a great option if you don’t have contact paper on hand.)

Instructions:

1. Start by drawing a heart on the middle of the paper plate then carefully cut it out.

2. Cover the back side of the paper plate with contact paper or clear tape so that the front of the heart is sticky and ready to decorate!

3. Cut your tissue paper into strips, then smaller squares so it’s easy for little hands to pick up.

4. Now, the fun begins! Give your little ones the tissue paper squares and have them stick the pieces of tissue paper to the heart shape. Encourage them to crumple the paper for extra fine motor work or lay them flat – either way, the result will be a beautiful masterpiece!

5. Once the heart is filled it’s time to showcase the masterpiece. Stick it to the window and watch the beautiful colors shine bright when the sun reflects through.

This heart sun catcher craft is the perfect way to turn a simple paper plate into a masterpiece that sparkles with love!

These heart suncatchers are such a fun way to add festive decor all while displaying your little ones art!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Colored sponges
• Glo Pals Light-Up Cubes
• Scoops/Bowls

Instructions:

1. Begin by adding an extra touch of love to the activity. Draw hearts on the colored sponges and cut them out, creating adorable heart-shaped sponges for your sensory bin. (I'll also share a fun way to repurpose them later.)

2. Fill a bin with water, and now comes the magic! Add the heart-shaped sponges, Glo Pals Cubes, and your scoops and bowls. The water will soon transform into a SWEET station full of colors and textures.

3. Let your little one squeeze, scoop, pour + more as they explore this sweet sensory bin.

Exciting Ways to Play:

• Use the heart-shaped sponges to transfer water from the bin to a bowl, enhancing fine motor skills and coordination.

• Capture the Glo Pals and add them to the matching color heart sponge, creating a fun color-matching activity.

• Stir up some "Glo Pals soup" by mixing your favorite colored Pals, adding a delightful imaginative twist to playtime.

• Scoop, pour, and explore cause and effect when you remove the cubes from the water and they turn off.

Tip Top Tip: When you're finished using the sponges in water play, they also make excellent heart stamps. Just dip them into washable paint and stamp away! This activity is sure to leave hearts feeling full of excitement and creativity.

Gather these simple ingredients to make Valentine's-themed playdough!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cups salt
• 4 tsp cream of tartar
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 cups of boiling water
• gel food coloring (red, pink, or any other Valentine's colors you like!)

Instructions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and cream or tartat. Mix them together, creating the base for your playdough.

2. Add the vegetable oil and water to the dry ingredients. Stir the mixture until it forms a dough-like consistency. For a mess-free experience, consider adding the food coloring to the water, diluting it to prevent staining hands.

3. Transfer the mixture to a pan and cook on medium heat setting, stirring constnatly. Witness the transformation as it forms a ball and stops sticking. This cooking process is where the magic happens!

4. Set the dough aside to cool. Once it's cool enough, knead it until it's smooth and add any fun mix-ins you want. (Glitter, polymer clay piecer, etc.)
5. With the kneading complete and mix-ins incorporated, your Valentine's-themed playdough is ready to roll–literally! Watch as your creation inspires imaginative play and magical moments!

Exciting Ways to Play:

• Create a tinker tray with items of different textures. Above, we used pipe cleaners, dough cutters, buttons, and added Lumi and Sammy for imaginative play!

• Transform our playdough session into a bakery adventure! Let the little ones design their own playdough candies, cookies, and other sweet treats. This activity not only engages fine motor skills but also introduces the concept of shape and form as they mold and craft dough-licious confections.

• Spread the love by crafting dough valentines adorned with sparkly accessories! Use heart-shapes cookie cutters to create the base and then let your little ones decorate these adorable valentines with sparkles, sequins + other dazzling accessories. This charming activity is such a fun way to personalize valentines that are sure to warm hearts.

With these playful + imaginative ways to celebrate Valentine's Day, you're sure to create lasting memories filled with laughter, creativity, and lots of love! Be sure to tag @glopals so we can see all the fun ways you play!