When it comes to writing, I begin by teaching children letter formation without a pencil or pen. Instead, we do themed activities just like this pre-writing alphabet practice with conversation hearts. We love Valentine’s Day activities, and this is a great fine motor idea to add to your February preschool themes.

Candy hearts are so fun to play with that I always make new games with them each year. And the great part about picking up candy hearts is that it is helping children develop the exact same muscles they will need to properly hold a pencil once the time comes.

For the record, children who already write will love this activity too.

The great part about this activity is that you can do it over and over each month, but by simply swapping out the candy hearts with something else, it seems fresh and new. Take a peek at how I do it in the fall.

The prep for this is so minimal if you already have the materials, which makes it easy to whip up on any busy day. If you don’t have the wooden letters that I have, you can just write the letters on a surface (I explain more below) or use the printable lower case letters I have created for you.

Materials:

• Conversation Candy Hearts
• Wooden letters or printable letters

If you need a quick way to set this up, you can still accomplish the same idea with a board and chalk markers. Just use a chalkboard, dry-erase board, or a mirror and write the letters with a chalk marker. Then the children can place the conversation hearts on top of them.

I like to set the letters out and put the conversation hearts in an inviting container next to it. It won’t take long before it will become a well-loved activity! Here are some of the ways we use them:

• Spelling names
• Identifying letters
• Letter formation
• Patterns
• And for a sweet snack

Now here are 20 more awesome activities to do for Valentine’s Day!

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:

Printable Valentine’s Day Dice Games // Fun-A-Day

FREE Number Bingo // The STEM Laboratory

Pre-Writing Alphabet Practice with Conversation Hearts // Preschool Inspirations

Heart Match Up Activity // Frogs, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

Counting Roses // Best Toys 4 Toddlers

Conversation Heart Counting Cards // Life Over C’s

Love Bug Clock // Fairy Poppins

Counting Heart Cake Toppers // Adventures of Adam

Heart Wreath // Powerful Mothering

Magic Heart Sight Words // Playdough to Plato

Simple Suspended Conversation Heart Discovery Bottle // Lemon Lime Adventures

Valentine Numbers and Counting Hearts // Play and Learn Everyday

Valentine Math: Portable Ten Frame with Hearts // Lalymom

Teach Buttoning Skills with Heart Buttons // Sugar Aunts

Free Valentine’s Day Addition Memory Game // DIY Farm Wife

Hearts Pom Pom Game // Teach Me Mommy

I Spy Valentine’s Day Heart Bottle // The Pleasantest Thing

Color Sorting Hearts // Modern Preschool

Candy Heart Addition Cards // The Kindergarten Connection

We Go Together Like PB&J Homemade Game // Study at Home Mama

Valentine’s Day CVC Board Game // Liz’s Early Learning Spot

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Katie T. Christiansen

Creator at Preschool Inspirations

Katie has spent 17 combined years in the Early Childhood field as a teacher, preschool owner, and educational writer. She has worked in profit and non-profit programs, high-risk schools, and started an in-home preschool and outdoor collaborative preschool program. She adores being a mom to three children, and her youngest is currently in preschool.

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