One of the skills listed on my Kindergarten Curriculum is to learn how to control a dropper.  This can be made into a tray like shown on Simply Natural Mom or a dropper is a fun way to create art and in this case, Valentines.

What you need to make these heart-shaped valentines: 

1. a dropper (we repurposed two dropper bottles from herbal supplements.  I’ve also heard from other moms that you can ask your pharmacy for empty dropper bottles when you pick up a prescription.)
2. water dyed with food coloring (we used red and pink)
3. coffee filters cut into the shape of hearts
4. a tray (I bought a pack of two aluminum baking pans for $1 at Dollar Tree)
5. black sharpie marker

John Robert (6.5 yrs) is able to control the dropper really well.  He was able to make really beautifully marbled valentines.  Asher (4 this month) is still working on his control and most of his valentines turned out to be a lake.  It also shows a lot about their personalities because John Robert is more cautious and likes things neat, while Asher is my mess-maker and insists on doing everything “his way.”

After the hearts dried, I traced their hands in sharpie marker and added their name and year.  These will be the Valentines given to the boys’ grandparents.  We’re also making these Star Wars Valentines for their friends.  Another really cute idea we’ve used in the past is this “I love you from the tips of my fingers to the tips of my toes” card.

Last year, we went on a mother-son date.  It didn’t exactly go as I had dreamed so we’ll probably do something different this year.

What do you do with your children to celebrate Valentine’s Day?