A Valentine's Day Craft You'll Love!

Have you been looking for a fun heart shaped craft to do for Valentine’s Day? Look no further! This fun interactive activity is a great way to work on following directions, sequencing fine motor coordination, and visual motor skills. Keep reading below for instructions on how to make your own!

What you’ll need:

• Yarn or Wikki Stix
• Hot glue (tape may work)
• Marble(s)
• Cardboard (a lid or box may help contain the marbles)
• Pencil
• Marker​

How to make the heart maze:

Step 1: Make a heart maze design with pencil on the cardboard (make sure the pencil outline is wide enough to fit a marble between the maze lines)

Step 2: Outline pencil maze with a marker 

Step 3: Place hot glue in sections over the marker and start to place yarn or Wikki Stix on top of the hot glue 

Step 4: Continue to put hot glue on the marker outline and finish placing the yarn on the hot glue until the heart design is finished

How to play: 
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Have the child place a marble at the opening of the heart. Have the child hold onto each side of the cardboard and tilt the cardboard back and forth until the marble reaches the center of the heart. This activity targets coordination on each side of the body and requires the child to control the force they’re using in order to get the marble to the center of the maze. If too much force is used the marble will roll over the yarn, and if not enough force is used the marble won’t move through the maze. If completing the maze with a marble is too challenging, try using a small bead!

Added tip: If you have the child draw the heart maze that also targets fine motor and drawing skills!

Inspiration for this craft from The Inspired Treehouse. 

Blog written by: Katie Voorhis, Occupational Therapy Student