Special thanks to Springfield Moms contributor Lauren Coleman for these sweet ideas for Valentines Day, from when her daughter, Isabelle, was 3:
“Isabelle pointed to the conversation hearts. She said “Look Mommy! Those are for the Love Day!” We bought a bag and took them home. The next morning she woke up and said “Happy Love Day, let’s go eat some sweet hearts!” As I was explaining that it wasn’t Valentine’s Day yet, I began to wonder, “How much of this is she understanding?”
I got out a piece of paper and some markers. At the top, I wrote “Isabelle, Valentine’s Day 2012.” Then I asked her 3 questions and recorded her answers.
- Question 1: What is love? Answer: “I don’t know.” “Kisses.”
- Question 2: Who do you love? Answer: “Mommy, Daddy, and Ireland.” (Ireland is her baby sister.)
- Question 3: What do you do when you love someone? Answer: “You have a party!!” “Give them hugs and kisses.”
Since apparently you have a party when you love someone, I decided we would have a Love Day party for Isabelle. I asked her what we needed for her party. She declared “Decorations and Cake!!”
We got to work on the decorations. We made a “Happy Valentine’s Day” sign from cardboard and scrapbooking paper. Then we made hearts out of yarn.
Materials for Yarn Hearts:
1. Yarn
2. Cornstarch Glue
3. Water
4. Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter
5. Newspaper
Instructions:
Step 1: Make the glue by combining ¼ cup of cornstarch with ½ cup water. Stir in a saucepan until smooth. Slowly bring to a medium heat while stirring. Glue will thicken. Let cool
Step 2: Cut the yarn into foot long pieces.
Step 3: Place the cookie cutter on the newspaper.
Step 4: Dip the yarn in the glue and then remove excess between your thumb and forefinger.
Step 5: Lay the yarn inside the cookie cutter. Repeat with the rest of the yarn until a thin layer covering the inside of the cookie cutter resembles a heart.
Step 6: Take out of the cookie cutter and let dry overnight.
Step 7: Hang or use to decorate table.
Now that we had all of our decorations, we set the table and enjoyed our little
cakes. We had a wonderful party, because that is what you do when you love someone… and give hugs and kisses.”
Submitted by Springfield Moms writer Lauren Coleman. She is a former Chicago Public Schools, Special Education teacher turned stay at home mom/domestic engineer. She is wife to Christopher Coleman and mother to Isabelle, Ireland and Hudson.
