Tomorrow we’ll be taking down our Christmas decorations, and I’m having a definite hankering to put up the Valentine’s Day décor. Yes, I know it’s too early. But I can dream, can’t I?
However, we are looking forward to doing some crafts in preparation for Valentine’s Day. One of the oldie but goodie books in our house is Guess How Much I Love You, a lovely favorite leftover from toddlerhood. In the book, Big and Little Nutbrown Hare have a conversation about just how big their love is. The book is a sweet one to read to preschoolers and toddlers around Valentine’s Day.
To complement your reading, here’s a cute Valentine’s Day bunny that you can cut out and decorate. Take a piece of scrap paper that is white or brown in color. Fold it in half, then cut a heart out of the paper. Cut half a heart out from the center fold, then fold out the paper again to reveal the entire heart. You will have a valentine.
Turn the valentine upside down so that the rounded parts face you. Cut out two long strips of paper, about the length of your child’s palm. Place them on either side of the point at the top of the valentine.
What do you have? The shape of a bunny! Decorate it with googly eyes, pipe cleaner whiskers, or whatever three-dimensional objects you have lying around the house. If you wish, your child can simply create a face with felts or crayons. Make one bunny or make many and use them as Valentine’s Day cards. Fold the ears into the center and fold up the heart, and you have a Valentine’s Day surprise.
Don’t forget to add the quote in the center: “Guess How Much I Love You?” This is a great chance for your child to use metaphors to describe her love for a special family member or friend.