A LOVEly Valentines Celebration
At Footsteps we love using seasonal events, national celebrations and cultural traditions as opportunities to inspire curiosity and learning. Around Valentine’s Day our settings are filled with colour, conversation and creativity as our children explore big ideas like love and friendship in ways that feel accessible and age-appropriate.
Valentine’s Day gives us the opportunity to talk about friendship, caring for others and positive relationships. Through stories and group discussions, children talk about what it means to be kind, how we show love to our friends and family, and how small actions like sharing, helping or giving a compliment can make others feel happy
These ideas are brought to life through fun, hands-on activities. Children have enjoyed creating Valentine-themed crafts, exploring hearts and colours through messy play and tuff tray set-ups, and taking part in role play where they write cards and deliver them to friends and family. Songs and stories reinforce new vocabulary, while simple numeracy activities such as counting hearts, matching pairs or sorting by colour help embed learning naturally through play.
Valentine’s activities offer lots of opportunities for creative expression and sensory exploration. Children enjoyed painting with reds and pinks and experimenting with different tools and textures to create heart-themed artwork and collaborative displays. Decorating Valentine’s biscuits is always a favourite, supporting fine motor skills as children spread icing, sprinkle decorations and make choices about colours and patterns. These activities naturally encourage conversation, turn-taking and descriptive language, while also introducing early maths concepts such as counting, comparing sizes and following simple sequences. Most importantly, they provide a relaxed way for our children to express feelings, take pride in their creations and share something special with others – as well as a yummy treat!
At Footsteps, every celebration is another opportunity to learn, connect and have fun together! We can’t wait to share more of our adventures with you.
