Homemade Play Dough Valentines

As you know, my One Word for 2012 is Be, as in Be a Friend. One of the ways I have tried to put this into practice is by starting a moms playgroup at our church. We meet once a month at my house, once at another mom's house, and also try to schedule in one monthly outing. It has been a great way for me to connect with other moms, and the boys are also getting an opportunity to play and connect with other kids their age.

Today, we had a fun little Valentine's Day Party at our house. I served heart shaped peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches, pretzels (which are naturally heart shaped), and fresh fruit. I made strawberry cupcakes with strawberry icing and garnished them with strawberry halves.

The kiddos had fun playing with our Valentine's Day Sensory Bin and Play Dough.

The kids also exchanged valentines. The night before, Buddy and I made some for him and Little Man to give to their friends.

I thought all of the kids would enjoy taking some of the sparkly pink play dough home with them. I found great little plastic heart-shaped containers, and pink and red foam letters in the Target $1 aisle. Buddy and I made up another batch of playdough and filled the containers.

Here's my Valentine's Play Dough recipe...

1 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Salt
1 Cup Water
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil 
2 Tablespoons Cream of Tartar
Red Food Coloring
Red Glitter

Mix flour, salt, oil and cream of tartar. Slowly add water. Cook over medium heat, stirring until dough stiffens and begins to pull away from pan. Turn out onto wax paper and let cool. Knead the playdough with your hands until proper consistency. Add a few drops of red food coloring and glitter, and continue to knead dough until it is mixed thoroughly.


I thought I would emphasize a little natural letter learning while we made the valentines. First, I laid out basic letter flash cards across the table and we sang the ABC song. Then I gave Buddy the bowl of foam letters and we sorted them out, saying each letter as we placed them on the matching card.

Then I took out a dry erase board and wrote the child's name that he was making the Valentine for. He would look at the name, find the right letters, and stick them to a piece of white cardstock. He did a really great job!

After he finished all of the kid's names, we hot glued the play dough filled plastic hearts onto the cards. Then I wrote out the boys names in pencil and let Buddy trace their names with a marker. He had a lot of fun making the valentines for the kids and couldn't wait to hand them out today.

Hope you are having a great week!

Always,

Amanda