Play doesn't need to be complicated.
You can simply give the kids some random bits to explore with and let them create and explore on their own terms. Which is exactly what this Valentine's Day loose parts play idea is all about. Below, you'll see how two kids can take the same materials and play with them in their own unique ways.
So, if you're looking for a super easy Valentine's Day activity for toddlers or preschoolers, give this idea a try! It's super low prep, but allows for lots of exploration, creativity, and imaginative play.
What You'll Need for this Valentine's Day Loose Parts Play Activity
This open-ended heart themed activity is what I call a simple invitation to play. Here's what we used:
- Picture frame, any size or shape - You could remove the glass if you'd like and just use the frame, but I kept the glass in the frame.
- Pink & red buttons, in various sizes
- Transparent hearts of various sizes - I found these red hearts at our local dollar stores. They were Valentine's Day mobiles that I cut apart. You could use heart cookie cutters or foam heart shapes as an alternative.
To set up this Valentine's Day themed invitation to play, I simply set out the picture frame with the hearts and a cup of buttons next to it. Like so:
Okay...What's an Invitation to Play?
I get asked all the time why I use the word invitation and what it means.
Invitations to play simply refer to open-ended explorations for children.
I personally love invitations to play because it allows the boys to be creative in their own ways with no expectations or particular agenda in mind. I often end up surprised and amazed by what the boys choose to do with particular invitations. I also often get to see how different my boys' personalities truly are.
This Valentine's Day buttons and hearts activity is the perfect example of how two children can take the same materials and use them in two entirely different directions.
Loose Parts Play for Valentine's Day: The Preschooler's Approach...
My preschooler J first placed one giant heart in the middle of the picture frame and then used the buttons to decorate along the inside of the picture frame.
Then he decided to place buttons around the outside of the heart.
He then stacked some hearts and filled them with buttons.
Which lead to some beautiful creations.
Now, The Toddler Way...
When K woke up from his nap, which is a very rare moment in this house lately, he saw J's creations on the picture frame. Since J was done with it, K was happy to explore it on his own terms, completely uninterrupted. First, K needed to pick up the buttons.
And sometimes toddler arms aren't quite long enough, so it only makes sense to stretch out on the picture frame to pick up allll those buttons...
After putting all the buttons back into their container, K dumped them out onto the picture frame. Makes senses. I mean, what toddler doesn't enjoy dumping stuff out of containers?!
Then, like a typical toddler, K got temporarily distracted by the empty container. He just had to put it on his foot, which of course made him giggle like crazy.
The empty container quickly lost its appeal though and K moved onto playing with the transparent hearts, which lead to him making heart sunglasses.
You can see how both boys used the materials in different ways for this activity. But they both had a lot of fun with it.
This Valentine's Day loose parts play activity is part of the Show Me the Love series. Be sure to check out some more fun Valentine's Day activities from my series co-hosts:
Valentine's Day Gelatin Slime Sensory Play from House of Burke
Stamping Hearts With Recycled Coffee Cup Sleeves from Still Playing School
