Updated January 23, 2024
Are you looking for an easy Valentine’s Day activity for kids?
Check out our adorable Valentine’s Day penguin craft!
Our penguin craft includes a free printable template and is made with basic shapes so it is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers!
Valentine’s Day Penguin Craft For Kids
Materials Needed:
- Black, white, and yellow cardstock
- Red felt or cardstock for hearts
- Googly eyes
- Scissors
- Glue
- Pencil (for tracing)
- Free printable penguin template (make sure to provide the link or a button for download)
Instructions:
Step 1: Prepare the Template
- Download and print out the penguin template.
- Cut out the template shapes, which will be used to trace the craft pieces onto cardstock.
Download your Valentine’s Day Penguin Template Here
Step 2: Tracing and Cutting
- Trace the penguin’s body onto black cardstock or black construction paper and cut it out.
- Trace the heart and feet onto red cardstock or felt and cut these out as well.
- Trace the beak onto yellow cardstock and cut it out.
- For the penguin’s belly, use white cardstock.
- You can also print out the beak, heart, and feet in color instead of tracing them onto colored cardstock.
Step 3: Assembling the Penguin
- Glue the black head onto the black body.
- Glue the white belly onto the center of the black head and body.
- Affix the beak at the top of the white belly.
- Add googly eyes above the beak to give your penguin character. You can use the eyes on the template or you can use large googly eyes if you have them
- Glue the heart onto the center of the white belly to represent the penguin holding a valentine. Glue the arms.
- Attach the feet at the bottom of the black body.
Step 5: Final Touches
- Add any additional decorations or personalized touches, such as writing a message on the heart, adding glitter, or using a ribbon.
Step 6: Displaying Your Craft
- Once the glue is dry, your penguin craft is ready to be displayed. Consider attaching a magnet to the back for fridge decoration, or a string to hang it as a decoration.
Tips:
- For younger children, pre-cut the shapes to make the activity more about assembly rather than cutting.
- Use safety scissors for kids to practice their cutting skills under supervision.
- Allow each glued part to dry before moving on to the next step to prevent shifting.
Skill Level and Age Appropriateness
Skill Level: Beginner
This craft is designed with simplicity in mind, perfect for little hands.
It involves basic cutting and gluing skills that are suitable for beginners.
Age Appropriateness: Toddlers (2-3 years) and Preschoolers (4-5 years)
- For Toddlers (2-3 years):
- Pre-cut all the shapes needed for the craft, as toddlers are still developing their scissor skills.
- Instead of using small googly eyes, you can substitute with larger ones or cut out circles from white paper and add dot pupils for safety.
- Use non-toxic glue sticks instead of liquid glue to minimize mess and make it easier for tiny fingers to manage.
- Assist with the placement of the pieces but encourage them to press down to secure each part.
- For Preschoolers (4-5 years):
- Encourage them to trace the shapes using the templates and practice their cutting skills with safety scissors under adult supervision.
- They can apply glue themselves, with guidance on how much to use.
- Preschoolers may enjoy customizing their penguin by choosing where to place the heart or adding additional decorations like glitter or drawing on the cardstock.
Safety Tips:
- Always supervise toddlers and preschoolers during craft activities, especially when scissors and glue are involved.
- Ensure all materials are non-toxic and safe for children’s use.
- Keep a clean workspace to prevent any accidental ingestion of small craft materials.
Related Crafts or Activities
If you enjoyed creating the penguin Valentine’s craft, you’ll love these additional activities and crafts that are perfect for a day filled with love and creativity.
Check out these fun ideas:
- Love Bugs: Transform everyday items like pom-poms and pipe cleaners into adorable little love bugs. They’re perfect for playing pretend or decorating the home.
- Heart Wreath: Use paper plates and a mix of colored paper to create a festive heart wreath. This is a great way to practice cutting skills and discuss patterns and colors.
Valentine’s Sensory Bins:
- Candy Hearts Water Play: A water bin filled with floating candy hearts and scoops can provide a delightful sensory experience while practicing counting and colors.
- Valentine’s Day Rice Bin: Color rice with red and pink non-toxic paint and add heart-shaped items for a tactile exploration bin.
Valentine’s Bubble Wrap Painting:
- Bubble Wrap Heart Stamps: Use bubble wrap as a stamp to create unique textures on heart-shaped cutouts. It’s a fun way to explore printmaking and can be used to make special Valentine’s cards.
- Love Cats: Make cute cat figures with heart-shaped features using our simple templates. This can be a purr-fect companion craft to the penguin and snowy owl.
- Fluffy Snowy Owl: Create a snowy owl with cotton balls and paper to bring some wintry charm to your Valentine’s Day décor.
Valentine’s Day Activity Placemats:
- Interactive Placemats: Download and print Valentine-themed placemats that include coloring areas, word searches, and mazes to keep little ones engaged during mealtime.
Valentine’s Day Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Here’s a collection of Valentine’s Day-themed books that are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, and can complement the penguin craft activity:
- “Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse!” by Laura Numeroff – Mouse celebrates Valentine’s Day by thinking about what he loves about each of his friends.
- “Click, Clack, Moo I Love You!” by Doreen Cronin – Little Duck decorates the barn for a Valentine’s Day party and a surprise guest shows up.
- “In My Heart,” by Jo Witek – A book that explores various emotions with lyrical language, perfect for learning about feelings.
- “Love from Llama Llama” by Anna Dewdney – Little Llama shows his affection with heart-shaped cards and hugs.
- “Love from The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle – The Very Hungry Caterpillar shows all the reasons why someone special makes the world a brighter place.
- “Happy Valentine’s Day, Curious George!” – George and friends get into some Valentine’s Day mischief with decorating and baking.
And don’t be shy about sharing your crafting adventure!
Was there a step you added your twist to?
Did you and your little ones have some giggles along the way?
Your experiences can inspire others, and I’m here for all the details!
