Gross Motor
Valentine's DayToddlersGrade SchoolKindergartnersPreschoolers25 Comments
I have been wanting to do a Valentine’s scavenger heart hunt for a long, long time… probably since last Valentine’s Day!
I wasn’t sure how exactly I wanted to do it, but I had ideas floating around in my head.
We’ve done a simple Valentine’s hunt activity in the past with just some numbered hearts to find and match.
It was a great number learning activity and the heart twist made it fun.
I knew I wanted it simple like that again, but it wasn’t until I saw this heart-a-day banner from Jones Design Company that I knew exactly what our scavenger heart hunt would be.
I told the boys the night before that we were going to do this Valentine’s scavenger hunt.
George was so excited in the morning that he wanted to do it right away.
I’ve been trying to get them to play more outside lately, so this was my ticket.
In order for me to set up the heart hunt activity, they would need to head outside and play first in the morning.
They ended up going for a walk with Dad and I had some time to get this ready.
Set Up Valentine’s Heart Scavenger Hunt
I cut out lots and lots, and lots more hearts for this activity.
I cut out about 30 for each of the kids, each kid got a different color.
The number of hearts depends on the number of days until Valentine’s Day.
I also cut out extra to do a bigger hunt on this day.
They ended up having 8 hearts to find for this particular hunt, but the scavenger hunt will go on every day until Valentine’s Day.
The kids can cut out the hearts too if you want to include them in on the setup. See the pretty heart garland they cut and made last year.
On each of the hearts I wrote something I love about each of the boys.
Henry had the purple color, George the light pink and Louis had the bright pink.
I actually didn’t end up writing any on Louis’s because he can’t read them and wouldn’t appreciate it much yet anyway.
His were kept blank.
But you could try drawing little pictures to depict things you love for a toddler like eyes, or a smile, maybe music notes for loving when they sing, etc.
Make 3 Hearts as Directions for Valentine’s Scavenger Hunt
I used 3 hearts for activity directions at the start.
The first “direction” heart was the beginning of the scavenger hunt that they would find when they got back home:
On the back of Henry’s starting heart, I wrote extra directions since he is the only one that can read.
It asked him to read his brothers’ hearts to them so they’d know what to do, as well as the ways I love them.
I also wrote to tell him that there would be 8 hearts to find today, and 1 heart each day until Valentine’s Day.
Then another heart gave them directions to hang the hearts they find in the hunt on their bedroom door.
A fun way to see the reasons I love them so much!
And the last direction on a heart said that when they spot someone else’s heart to not let them know about it.
Let them search for it!
Of course, these were hidden, so the directions weren’t followed from the start. But that’s okay.
I meant for them to follow this for the additional days until Valentine’s Day more than this initial heart hunt.
Start Your Heart Hunt
And then they came home!
It was excitement from the start!
Henry was in before the other boys and read his right away.
George and Louis gathered around him as they came inside too.
And then they were off to hunt for their 8 hearts!
They were so excited to read the ways I love them.
I even got extra hugs and kisses when they found the hearts that said I love their hugs and kisses.
Here are even more scavenger hunt ideas for kids!
And now their hearts are hanging on their doors to be added to every day until Valentine’s Day.
A new heart, and reason I love them, will be hidden each night (much like you guys that do the Elf on the Shelf) and the boys will hunt and find the heart every morning until Valentine’s Day.
And their bedroom door will hold all the reasons I love them so much!
Have you ever done a scavenger hunt with your kids?
WANT TO SAVE THIS ACTIVITY?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox so you can access this activity later! Plus, you'll get simple activities from us every week!
Susan says
I love this idea… I want to start this tomorrow!! Thanks so much for the idea.. Susan
Sher says
Delightful idea! Thank you for posting. I will do this with my grandchildren so they can hide hearts around the house for Mummy and Daddy to find when they come home from work!
Heather Driscoll says
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS !!! Tonight I will cut out all the hearts and will plan for my six year old daughter to do this with me tomorrow !! – I love doing these type of things !! So creative .. It will be fun for kids to hunt for the hearts and I am in love with telling my daughter how much I love her and what i love and adore about her !! Such an important part of being a parent – The little ones need to feel loved and when it is told in such a cute specific way …makes them flourish!!! Wonderful!!!!!
Rachel says
Hope you guys enjoy it!!
Bob Matchett says
why does it have to be so difficult to get a print out of an activity? I have never seen a web site so convoluted.
Great ideas, but I am a visual person and wish to take the writeup on the activity home to make up the supplies but what a chore.
Bob
Kathryn says
I love this take on a Heart Attack! I am just discovering your blog. The sheer amount of amazing ideas you have is mind-blowing. Thanks for this great idea.
Amanda says
Ahh… What a sweet idea Jamie! Thanks for sharing.
Jillian says
This is awesome. Before I stayed home with my 3 boys I taught preschool and am now constantly looking for new great ideas to do with my boys that can bring them together during play! This is a great idea to make them all feel special. My boys are 9, 2.5 years and 10mnths. They are also very energetic and happiest when on the go, go, go. Thank you for your website!!!
[email protected] says
What a sweet way to build up to Valentine’s Day – and it must have been as much fun for you to think of all the ways you love your boys as it was for them to find and read the clues.
Peggy C says
I babysit ny grandkid and will be doing with them starting today! Thanks fir great ideas
Jessica says
I am definitely doing this with our boys! I think they’d really have fun with it!
Erin @chickenbabies says
Love this idea! I usually leave notes for my kids in their mailboxes each day in February, but they would have so much more fun having to find their notes. We’ll definitely be trying this. Thanks.
Christin @ Happy to be -C- says
Love this idea! I teach Kindergarten and this would be perfect for my active kiddos! Great job!
Jamie Reimer says
Thanks! It’d be fun in a classroom! You could do a heart for each of them, or a class heart for them all to work together and find.
Julie Anne says
I love this idea. What a sweet way to let your kids know how you feel about them and celebrate valentines as a family. I will definitely be doing this with my kids this year thanks so much for sharing the idea!
Jamie Reimer says
Thanks Julie Anne! :) Have fun!!
Kelly @ IdealistMom.com says
You are a genius! This is such a lovely idea for celebrating Valentine’s Day with your kids – of all ages. Pinning this now to remember!
Jamie Reimer says
haha! Thanks Kelly :)