Valentine’s Day, a special celebration of love and affection, is the perfect opportunity to spend some creative time with your little ones. Whether you're decorating for a Valentine’s Day party, creating a special gift, or just looking for an easy craft project, heart-shaped paper chains are a fun and simple way to get everyone involved!
If you're ready to create something cute and memorable, here's a step-by-step guide on how to make heart paper chains with your kids using staples! Not only does it result in an adorable decoration, but it’s also a great way to practice fine motor skills and spend quality time together.
What You’ll Need:
- Colored paper (construction paper works great, but any type of paper will do) *thicker paper does seem to work better here
- Scissors (make sure they are kid-safe or supervise the cutting)
- Stapler (you can use any standard stapler)
STEP BY STEP
1. Prepare the Paper Strips
Start by cutting your colored paper into strips. The size can vary depending on how long you want your hearts to be - but a typical 8.5in x 11in is great especially when you cut strips the long way. These cuts do not need to be measured - they’re great to just eyeball and cut the strips. You can get your kids involved here by letting them help with measuring or even cutting (with supervision, of course!).
2. Forming the Heart Shape
Take one strip of paper and bend it into a "U" shape. The two ends of the strip should meet at the top, creating the top lobes of the heart. This step will require a little bit of folding, but the kids will enjoy bending the paper into shape!
3. Staple the Heart
Once you have the "U" shape, fold the next strip in half and insert in between the lobes of the previous heart. Then - use the stapler to fasten the ends together at the top, creating the heart's top curve while also connecting it to the bottom of the next heart. Make sure to staple it securely so that the heart doesn't come apart.
4. Add More Hearts
Now, repeat the process!
5. Customize the Heart Chains
Encourage your kids to get creative with the colors! You can make a rainbow of hearts, alternate between red and pink, or even add some sparkle with glitter paper. For extra fun, they can draw doodles or write messages inside the hearts before stapling them into the chain.
We love to make them for February as a countdown to Valentine’s Day.
6. Hang and Enjoy!
Once you've made a long enough chain, it's time to hang it up! You can drape the paper hearts around the house, hang them in windows, or even use them as a sweet decoration for a Valentine’s Day party. We hang ours over the fireplace, on their bunk beds or bookshelves in their bedrooms.
Why This Craft is Perfect for Kids:
- Simple & Engaging: This craft doesn’t require any complicated materials or advanced skills, making it perfect for younger children. Plus, the stapler adds a bit of excitement since it’s a tool kids don’t often get to use.
- Fine Motor Skill Development: Cutting, bending, and stapling help strengthen hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, all while your little one has fun.
- Bonding Time: Working together to make something fun and beautiful can create lasting memories and foster a sense of accomplishment.
- Endless Creativity: You can customize the paper chains in any way you want! Add drawings, stickers, or even cut out different shapes to make it unique.
Heart paper chains are a simple, affordable, and fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kids. Not only do you end up with cute decorations, but you also create a craft that’s easy to do together and provides ample opportunities for creativity. So grab some paper, a stapler, and start making those sweet little heart chains today!
If you give this a try - we would love to hear how it went! Let us know in the comments below!