Valentine's Day activities for 15-month-olds

Valentine's Day ideas for 15-month-olds

Valentine's Day gives a toddler a reason to practise the warm, social side of the day: blowing kisses, giving a card they made and saying who they love. Hearts, red and pink are everywhere, so it is an easy week to play with one shape and two colours. Most of the fun is in giving, delivering and hugging, which costs nothing and needs no sweets. The 6 ideas below overlap the 12-17-month band, best fit for 15 months first.

How to do Valentine Mailbox Posting

Cut a wide slot in a cardboard box and let your child post old greeting cards and envelopes through it, then open the lid to find them again. Words to model: in, bye, open, mail. Leave out cards with batteries, sound chips or glued-on decorations.

1. 1

   Cut a slot in the lid a little wider than the cards, and tape over the cut edges.

2. 2

   Post one card yourself and say "Bye, card!"

3. 3

   Hand over cards one at a time and wait; turn a card sideways for your child only if they get stuck.

4. 4

   Open the lid and look together: "Here they are!"

5. 5

   Tip them out and start again for as long as your child is interested.

More Valentine's Day ideas at 15 months

• Blow a Kiss, Wave Back

  Play a back-and-forth gesture game of blowing kisses, waving and patting your heart, a playful way to practise copying and early signs. Ages 12-17 months, 2-5 min, indoors or out. Start: catch your child's eye and blow a big, slow kiss with a smacking sound. Say: kiss, bye-bye, love you. Safety: If you use a mirror, choose an unbreakable one laid flat or fixed to the wall.

• Pink Yogurt Finger Painting

  Stir a little mashed berry into plain yogurt and let your child finger-paint pink swirls and hearts on a high-chair tray, tasting allowed. Ages 12-17 months, 4-10 min, indoors. Start: seat your child in the high chair and spoon the pink yogurt onto the tray. Say: pink, swirl, heart. Safety: Use plain yogurt with no added sugar and only foods your child already eats.

• Hugs and Kisses Action Song

  Sing a simple action song where each verse asks for a hug, a kiss, a wave or a clap, so your child joins the actions and shows affection on cue. Ages 12-17 months, 2-6 min, indoors or out. Start: sit face to face with your child on your lap or on the floor. Say: hug, kiss, love you. Safety: Keep a hand on your child's back during big arm movements while they sit on your lap.

• Paper Heart Walk-and-Find

  Tape big paper hearts low on walls and furniture around one room so your child can walk or cruise from heart to heart, pointing at each one. Ages 12-17 months, 4-10 min, indoors. Start: tape the hearts at your child's eye level, a few steps apart, while they watch. Say: heart, red, pink. Safety: Clear the walking path of toys and cords, and pad sharp table corners.

• Big Heart Sticker Peel

  Press large heart stickers onto a tray or the back of your hand with one corner lifted, so your child can pinch, peel and move them somewhere new. Ages 12-17 months, 3-8 min, indoors. Start: lift the corner of each sticker and press it onto the tray or the back of your hand. Say: heart, off, stick. Safety: Use stickers bigger than a toilet-paper tube opening and stay close: a mouthed sticker can block the throat.

Valentine's Day safety for 15-month-olds

Seasonal hazards first, then the precautions of the ideas on this page. Stay within arm's reach whenever water, food or small decorations are involved.

• Latex balloons are a serious choking risk once they pop or go flat: pick up every piece at once, or choose foil balloons with the ribbon cut short.
• Keep boxes of chocolates, candy hearts, hard candies and nut treats out of reach; small round, hard or sticky treats are choking risks for toddlers.
• Craft extras such as glitter, sequins, small pom-poms, googly eyes and sticker backings end up in mouths; stick to crayons, paper and large stickers.
• Set roses, bouquets and lit candles out of reach: thorns scratch, many cut flowers are not for eating, and a toddler can pull a candle down in a second.
• Take ribbons and string off gifts, and check musical cards for button batteries before your child holds them.
• Leave out cards with batteries, sound chips or glued-on decorations.
• If you use a mirror, choose an unbreakable one laid flat or fixed to the wall.
• Use plain yogurt with no added sugar and only foods your child already eats.

Valentine's Day words for 15-month-olds

Valentine's Day books to share

Kinds of books to look for at the library. At 15 months, sturdy board books with one clear picture per page work best; let your child turn the pages.

• Board books about hugs, kisses and the different people who love a child
• Simple feelings books with one clear face per page
• Lift-the-flap books that hide family members or animals
• Counting books with bold shapes such as hearts, circles and stars

Valentine's Day gift and basket ideas for 15-month-olds

Open-ended things that fit 12-17 months; check every part against the choking-size rule (nothing that fits through a toilet-paper tube).

• A soft doll or stuffed animal to hug, feed and tuck in
• A small photo album with sturdy pages filled with family photos
• Chunky crayons and a roll of large paper
• A set of large nesting cups or boxes
• A toddler tea set with pieces too big to fit in the mouth

Library activities that suit Valentine's Day

Everyday activities from our library that fit 15-month-olds and the season's affection, feelings and simple art.

• Gentle Hands for Teddy

  Your child strokes, pats and hugs a stuffed animal softly after watching you, learning what gentle touch looks and feels like before using it with people and pets. Why now: practices showing affection and noticing others' feelings and social emotional play. 3-6 min, no prep.

• Photo Wall Hello Kisses

  Your child greets low-hung photos of family members with waves, pats and blown kisses, practicing affection and learning the names of the people they love. Why now: practices showing affection and social emotional play. 3-6 min, 5 min prep.

• Goodbye Wave at the Window

  A short, same-every-time goodbye routine of a hug, a window wave and a comfort toy that helps your child get through a caregiver leaving with you close by. Why now: practices showing affection and social emotional play. 2-5 min, no prep.

• Name the Feeling as It Happens

  When real frustration, joy or fear shows up, you name it in a few calm words and stay close, so your child starts linking feelings to words. Why now: practices naming feelings and social emotional play. 2-5 min, no prep.

• Teddy Goodnight Hugs

  Before bed your child tucks a stuffed animal under a small blanket, hugs it and says goodnight, practicing affection and the calm steps of an evening routine. Why now: practices showing affection and social emotional play. 4-8 min, no prep.

More seasonal ideas