Cardboard Heart Wands for Valentine’s Day

Inside: Create cardboard heart wands for Valentine’s Day using collage pieces, glue and paint! Our toddlers loved holding these while singing songs during circle time.

It’s no secret around here that we love circle time props.

In fact, I have many printable props here on my website and in my shop that I discuss often!

But did you know your children can make their own props for circle time, too?

That’s what we did in February! We created cardboard heart wands that basically used scraps of what we already had, plus craft sticks.

I love how they turned out!

For the Love of Cardboard

Cardboard is one of my favorite materials when putting together art activities.

It’s so easy to upcycle and costs nothing!

Some cardboard pieces we’ve enjoyed creating:

• Squirrels
• Trees
• Apples
• Gingerbread Men

I also love how sturdy cardboard is. No warping!

Supplies

• Cardboard
• White glue
• Red tempera paint
• Paintbrushes
• Heart template 
• Jumbo craft sticks (you can use regular – I just prefer the larger ones)
• Assorted red, white and pink collage pieces (paper, fabric, buttons, pom poms, yarn, etc.)

Preparation

Cut heart shapes from cardboard. (You can use a heart template or cut freehand.)

Glue to the top craft sticks. I used hot glue but you can use white glue (knowing that it will take awhile to dry).

Pour paint into small containers and squeeze some white glue into it.

Place collage pieces in containers.

Set Up

I like to use trays for many of my art activities. If you are using trays, place one at each spot.

Add heart wands to each tray along with containers of paint and paintbrushes.

Put the tray(s) of collage materials in the middle of the table, within reach of the children.

Invitation to Create

Tell your children that they will be decorating a heart.

Explain that the paint has glue in it, so it will be sticky.

Cover the heart.

Note: Toddlers might not cover all of the heart and that’s okay! Just make sure they understand that the collage pieces will not stick to the areas without paint.

Toddlers also sometimes like to add more paint once the collage pieces are in place, even painting on top.

No rules.

No worries!

Let Dry and Use at Circle Time

Let the wands dry for at least 24 hours.

Then, turn on some Valentine’s Day songs and let the children sing and dance while waving their wands!

Here is our Valentines Day playlist:

More: Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Ideas

More Heart Activities

• Watercolor Hearts for the Window
• Hearts Color Matching for Circle Time
• Valentine Hearts Fine Motor Activity