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Valentine's Day activities for under fives
Three ways to keep toddlers and preschoolers moving during a rainy Valentine's Day.
Learn the benefits for our children and mokopuna, along with what you'll need and instructions.
Sensory Art - I love You To Eternity
Benefits:
This experience encourages both sides of the brain to work together as children run their fingers around the tactile shapes.
Crossing the midline promotes concentration, control and leads to good balance.
You will need:
- Pen
- Cardboard
- Glue gun or glue
- Sand (or glitter/string during a cyclone)
Instructions:
- On the cardboard draw a heart shape and eternity (figure 8) shape.
- Go over the shape with glue.
- Sprinkle sand or glitter on the glue and shake the remains off.
Heart Bubble Wands
Benefits:
This experience teaches children mindful breathing to support self-regulation.
Chasing and catching the bubbles allows children to track and strengthen tiny eye muscles for vision, and in the future reading.
As well as engaging gross motor muscles through movement.
You will need:
- Pipe cleaners
- Bubble mixture
- Container
Instructions:
- Form one pipe cleaner into a heart shape.
- Add a stick to hold the wand.
- Dip in bubble mixture and gently blow (indoors during a cyclone)
Cupid's Heart Target
Benefits:
Throwing at a target provides the opportunity to practice aim and accuracy while developing hand-eye coordination.
Target throw creates a sense of satisfaction and achievement when the target is hit and points are won!
You will need:
- Cardboard
- Pen
- Scissors
- Bluetack
- Beanbags or balls (suitable for indoors during a cyclone)
Instructions:
- Draw and cut out variety of heart shapes.
- Add points and numbers.
- Stick with blue tack onto a wall, fence, garage door (stay indoors during a cyclone).
- Aim and throw!
Learn More
The above activities were complied by our Early Childhood Advisor, Lisa Thomson. For more ideas and information about the benefits of movement for under fives join Lisa for her upcoming workshops at Playcentre and Plunket. Contact Lisa to find a workshop near you.
