Explore food, recipes, measuring and so much more with our many manipulation, role play, and early science activities. This theme will help you create a special restaurant within your daycare!

Infant Corner

Infant Corner Archives

Celebrating Valentine's Day with infants

To begin, I would like to share a Valentine's Day project which has become a classic, a Valentine mailbox.

Begin with a large box which you paint red. Cut a slit through which mail can be deposited. Deposit your mailbox in the center of the daycare.

Invite children and daycare workers from each group to make letters and valentines for daycare children. Have an adult distribute the mail to children and personnel every day.

The nursery in our daycare also took part in this project. We had babies who had brothers or sisters in the daycare paint a large heart with red paint. We included an invitation to visit the nursery in each card. Much to their surprise, when they visited their little brother or sister a gift was waiting for them! I had purchased heart-shaped straws and wrapped them individually. This created a unique bonding moment between brothers and sisters.

So much more...

I am sure that you have already decorated your daycare with hearts galore! For a very special activity, paint with red Jell-O (simply add a small amount of water to the powder)!

Make tiny heart-shaped cushions by cutting two hearts out of pink or red felt. Stuff the hearts with cotton balls or fabric scraps. Sew the hearts together or seal them with hot glue. Felt can be purchased by the meter in fabric stores. Imagine a large felt heart babies can climb on! Be sure to supervise closely in case the heart tears open.

Create a Valentine's Day thematic bin. Purchase several Valentine's Day items which are safe for babies from the dollar store. From time to time, take the bin out and invite babies to explore its content. One year, I found hearts which vibrated when you pulled on a string...

A Valentine's Day song...

(sung to: Mary had a little lamb)

Won't you be my Valentine, Valentine, Valentine
Won't you be my Valentine, oh please (baby's name)

I will give you hugs and kisses, hugs and kisses, hugs and kisses
I will give you hugs and kisses, on Valentine's Day!

Chantal Milette

No element of this text may be copied, reproduced, distributed, published, translated, downloaded, posted, or transmitted, in any way, without prior written authorization from Educatall and the copyright holder. Elements may be posted and/or downloaded solely for personal and non-commercial use provided no modifications are made and all notices of intellectual property are fully shown (name of the author, title of the article, name of the website, date the text is used and the date of the part in question).

*Share and use*

Among the 150 best websites on the Toile du Québec in 2006

Considered Innovation of the year by the Salon des Générations

Awarded the Canadian Prime Minister’s prize for Excellence in early childhood education 2002-2003

Among the best websites to succeed in school according to the annual guide 2007-2008