Valentine’s Day isn’t just about cards and chocolates; it’s a fantastic opportunity to get creative with your little ones! One of the best ways to encourage this creativity is through the joys of homemade playdough. Playdough isn’t just fun; it’s a powerful tool for development. It strengthens little fingers, hands, and wrists, enhancing fine motor skills. Plus, the squishing, rolling, and shaping can be a great stress reliever and a sensory experience for kids of all ages. This Valentine’s Day, let’s add a dash of color and a pinch of love to our playdough-making session with some thematic hues and exciting add-ons.
What’s even better? Making your own playdough is easy and allows you to involve your kids in a safe and engaging cooking activity.
Valentine’s Day playdough Materials
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar
- 1 tablespoon of oil
- Pink, purple, or red food coloring
- 1 + 1/2 cups hot water
- A few drops of vegetable glycerin for extra smoothness.
Step-by-Step Valentine’s Day Playdough Making Instructions:
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, and 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar.
- Prepare Colored Water: In a separate container, mix 1 cup of hot water with a few drops of your chosen food coloring (pink, purple, or red) and 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the vegetable glycerin here as well.
- Combine and Cook: Gradually add the colored water to the dry ingredients, mixing as you go. Continue mixing, if your dough is still very dry slowly add the remaining 1/2 cup of hot water. You may not need all the water, so add it slowly until you reach the desired consistency.
- Knead the Dough: Once the mixture is combined and cooled down a bit, knead the dough. You can do this by hand or use a stand mixer with a dough attachment for a smoother texture.
- Adjust as Needed: If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. If it’s too dry, add a bit more water. The perfect playdough should be smooth and not leave residue on your hands.
Setting Up a Valentine’s Day Playdough Invitation:
Now that your Valentine’s Day playdough is ready, it’s time to set up a fun playdough invitation for the kids. Gather items like heart-shaped cutters, gems, heart gems, pipe cleaners, pom poms, and artificial petals – all in shades of pink, red, and purple. Lay these out on a tray or table along with the playdough. This setup not only looks inviting but also encourages creative play. Kids can use these items to decorate and create their own Valentine’s-themed creations.
How the Played
It was an absolute delight watching my three kids dive into the world of Valentine’s Day playdough. The moment I set out the vibrant, homemade dough, their eyes lit up like fireworks. My oldest, always the imaginative one, immediately started sculpting little hearts, each with a unique pattern, declaring them ‘love tokens’ for each family member. One of my twins, ever the engineer, was more focused on building what she called a ‘Love Rainbows’, meticulously shaping the arcs from the colorful pipe cleaners. And then there was my other twin, giggling non-stop as she squished and rolled the dough, occasionally pressing his hands into it to create what he proudly called ‘handprint hearts’. It was a mix of creativity, laughter, and, of course, a bit of a mess, but watching them work together, sharing colors and tools, really warmed my heart. It wasn’t just about play; it was about expressing their unique versions of love through this simple, yet special activity.
Storing the Playdough:
To keep your homemade Valentine’s Day playdough fresh, store it in an airtight container or a ziplock bag. If stored properly, it can last for up to 6 months. Just make sure to check the texture before each play session. If it starts to dry out, you can knead in a little bit of water to bring it back to life.
By making and playing with this Valentine’s Day-themed playdough, your kids will not only have a blast but also work on important developmental skills. Plus, it’s a great way to add a touch of festive fun to your Valentine’s Day celebrations!
Age Suitability
Valentine’s Day playdough is good for toddlers aged children 2 years old and up with adult assistance.
Mess Level
The mess level for Valentine’s Day playdough is low.
Difficulty to Create
Easy.
Toddler and Preschooler Curriculums, Books & TV Show!
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
The Best Sensory Play Kits for Kids
Play is at the core of learning during the early years and it can take many forms. One of the most important of these is sensory play because it engages all of a child’s senses (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing) and has a enoumous positive impact on brain development.
Our Sensory Play Kits are some fun and easy ways to keep your child engaged while at the same time using sensory play to nurture their mind!
Shop our ready made play kits here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Valentine’s Day Playdough Recipe
Materials
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar
- 1 tablespoon of oil
- Pink, purple, or red food coloring
- 1 + 1/2 cups hot water
- A few drops of vegetable glycerin for extra smoothness (optional)
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, and 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar.
- Prepare Colored Water: In a separate container, mix 1 cup of hot water with a few drops of your chosen food coloring (pink, purple, or red) and 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the vegetable glycerin here as well.
- Combine and Cook: Gradually add the colored water to the dry ingredients, mixing as you go. Continue mixing, if your dough is still very dry slowly add the remaining 1/2 cup of hot water. You may not need all the water, so add it slowly until you reach the desired consistency.
- Knead the Dough: Once the mixture is combined and cooled down a bit, knead the dough. You can do this by hand or use a stand mixer with a dough attachment for a smoother texture.
- Adjust as Needed: If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. If it's too dry, add a bit more water. The perfect playdough should be smooth and not leave residue on your hands.
