3 At-Home Valentine’s Day Activities for Toddlers

As the season of love approaches, why not celebrate Valentine’s Day with your little ones in a way that’s both fun and educational? At Tierra Encantada, our Spanish immersion daycare and preschool, we believe in creating memorable experiences for toddlers that enhance their learning while fostering a love for cultural celebrations. Here are three engaging Valentine’s Day activities you can enjoy with your toddler at home.

Valentine’s Day Activities for Toddlers

1. Heartfelt Spanish Vocabulary Lesson

As a Spanish immersion daycare, we believe that language learning can be both playful and insightful. Turn Valentine’s Day into a bilingual adventure by introducing your toddler to some simple Spanish vocabulary related to love and friendship.

Materials Needed:

• Red, pink, and white construction paper
• Scissors (for parent’s use only!)
• Kid-friendly markers
• Non-toxic glue

Activity Steps:

1. Cut out heart shapes from the construction paper in various sizes and colors for your toddler.
2. Write Spanish words related to Valentine’s Day on each heart. For example: amor (love), amigo (friend), corazón (heart), and abrazo (hug).
3. Lay the heart shapes on the floor or a table and show each heart to your toddler, saying the word aloud and encouraging them to repeat after you.
4. Create a colorful Valentine’s Day collage by gluing the hearts onto a larger piece of paper.

This activity not only introduces your toddler to new Spanish words but also enhances their fine motor skills by picking up the hearts and helping you glue them to the piece of paper.

2. Love-Themed Sensory Play

Toddlers love exploring the world through their senses, and sensory play is a fantastic way to engage them in Valentine’s Day festivities. At Tierra Encantada, we often incorporate sensory activities into our curriculum that stimulate a child’s senses while promoting creativity and imagination.

Materials Needed:

• Sensory bin or large tray
• Tri-colored pasta 
• Dry rice
• Heart-shaped cookie cutters
• Small toys or objects related to love (miniature paper hearts, plastic animals, etc.)

Activity Steps:

1. Fill the sensory bin or tray with all the items listed above.
2. Encourage your toddler to explore the textures, colors, and shapes in the sensory bin. They can even use the cookie cutters to create heart imprints in the rice.

This sensory play will entertain your toddler while enhancing their tactile senses and providing an opportunity for imaginative play.

3. Valentine’s Day Dance Party

We believe that movement and music are integral parts of early childhood development. To celebrate the holiday, turn your living room into a dance floor and throw a Valentine’s Day dance party for your toddler!

Materials Needed:

• A selection of toddler-friendly love songs (e.g., “Love is an Open Door” from Frozen)
• String lights or heart-shaped decorations for ambiance

Activity Steps:

1. Clear a space in your home and create a festive atmosphere with string lights or heart-shaped decorations. You can make these decorations ahead of time or purchase from a local party store.
2. Play a selection of love-themed songs and encourage your toddler to dance along.
3. Join in the fun! Dance with your toddler, express happiness, and celebrate the joy of movement.

Dancing promotes physical development, and the overall experience allows for bonding and shared moments of joy between you and your child.

At Tierra Encantada, we believe that celebrating holidays like Valentine’s Day is an excellent opportunity to blend learning and fun for toddlers. These activities are designed to engage your little ones while fostering language development, sensory exploration, and the joy of movement.

As you embark on these Valentine’s Day activities for your toddler, remember to cherish the moments of connection and play. Whether it’s learning new words, exploring textures, or dancing together, these activities at home can create lasting memories that contribute to your child’s holistic development.