just for kids

february 2001

Valentine's Day is not just for people in love-children actually celebrate the day best, fashioning paper hearts of all sizes to turn into valentines for everyone from their classmates to their parents and grandparents. We heartily endorse spending time with your children working on Valentine crafts. Over the years, we've helped our children and now, our grandchildren, to use some old-fashioned skills, like cutting and pasting, baking, and giving. Here are some projects for you and your children to try. Valentine Cards Set out white, red, and pink construction paper, Valentine stickers, paper lace dollies, glitter, ribbon, markers, paint, crayons, heart shaped confetti, glue, and scissors appropriate for the age of the child. Kids can use their imaginations to fashion cards, add a silly or sweet verse inside, and sign their name. Make sure they make a valentine for everyone-nobody likes to be left out. Valentine Potato Prints These can be used on a card or on plain white paper to make unique wrapping paper for a small Valentine gift. Cut a raw potato in half. Using a heart shaped cookie cutter that will fit on the potato half, press the cookie cutter into the cut side of the potato. Then, using a knife (kids may need help doing this), cut the potato around the outside of the cookie cutter, leaving a heart shaped potato stamp. Supply the kids with red and white paint and red and white (or pink) paper. Have the children dip the potato in the paint, then press the potato firmly onto the paper. Love Coupons This is a particularly great gift for dad or a grandparent. Have the children cut out several hearts from construction paper. Then with a pen or crayon, mark down a job on each heart-such as taking out the trash, setting the table, emptying the dishwasher, walking the dog, folding the laundry, rake the leaves, sweep the driveway or patio, etc. Then have the child sign their name on each heart and place them in an envelope that they should decorate before giving the envelope to whomever it's intended. Valentine Sachets Cut out two large hearts the same size. Decorate them as desired with stickers, gluing on bits of lace or paper doilies, etc. Using a hole punch, punch out holes about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) inside the outer perimeter of both hearts. Place the hearts together and weave a piece of ribbon or yarn in and out of the punched holes to connect the two hearts, leaving an opening at the bottom. Spray cotton balls with perfume and stuff the cotton balls inside the heart. Finish weaving the yarn or ribbon, closing the opening. Tie a pretty bow and your valentine sachet is ready to give. Valentine Finger Painting All kids love to finger paint. Buy finger paints in red, white, and pink or make a batch of finger paint using our recipe below. Supply plenty of white paper (protect the table or work surface with newspapers) and let the children create their own special Valentine pictures. Be sure they sign and date their pictures. I recently had the heart-warming experience of running across one that my son made 30 years ago. Suggestion: cover the children with a "paint smock" or an old shirt donated by their dad that completely covers their clothes. Finger Paint: 1/2 cup cornstarch 4 cups cold water food coloring Mix cornstarch and water in a saucepan. Boil until mixture thickens. Cool and pour into 3 containers. Add food coloring to make the red and pink colors, leaving the last white. Valentine Pretzels These are fun to make (even little ones love to knead dough) and they're a healthy snack for the kids. Valentine Pretzels (makes 12 pretzels) 1 tablespoon (12 g) sugar 1 cup (240 ml) warm water 2 1/4-ounce (7 g) packages active dry yeast about 4 cups (560 g) unbleached all-purpose flour butter-flavored cooking spray 1 large egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) water kosher salt (optional) Place the sugar and water in a large bowl, stirring once or twice to dissolve the sugar. Stir in the yeast and let stand for 5 minutes, until yeast dissolves and the mixture is foamy. Stir in flour to form a stiff dough. Turn out onto a floured work surface and knead for 10 minutes until dough feels smooth and elastic, adding additional flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking. Lightly coat a clean bowl with cooking spray. Shape dough into a ball and place in prepared bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 45 to 60 minutes. Punch dough down and shape dough into an evenly shaped log about 24 inches (61 cm) long. Cut log into 12 equal pieces, about 2 inches (5 cm) long. Line large baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll each piece between your hands to form a rope about 20 inches (50 cm) long. Connect ends of ropes, shape each rope into a heart, and place on prepared baking sheets at least 4 inches apart. Beat egg and water. Using a pastry brush, brush the top of each heart pretzel with the egg mixture and, if using, sprinkle with salt. Let rise for 15 minutes, until puffy. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C), Gas Mark 6. Bake for about 12 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature. Per pretzel: 165 calories (5% calories from fat), 5 g protein, 1 g total fat (0.2 g saturated fat), 33 g carbohydrates, 1 g dietary fiber, 18 mg cholesterol, 73 mg potassium, 7 g sodium Diabetic exchanges: 2 carbohydrate (bread/starch)