Valentine Caterpillar Craft for Kids [Free PDF Template]
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Kids will love inching their way through this Valentine caterpillar craft, since the finished project turns into a sweet caterpillar on a leaf that says, “You’re unbe-LEAF-able, Valentine!”
A short prep time keeps things easy for the adults, and the cute details and bright colors make it a fun project for your little love bugs. It takes about fifteen minutes for kids to complete at home, school, or at an after-school group.
Take a look through our other Valentine crafts for kids to get even more inspiration for other homemade Valentines they can make.
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Why Kids Love This Inchworm Activity
This pink and red caterpillar Valentine is attached to a leaf with a sweet message for someone special. The hands-on nature of this project keeps your little creators engaged and excited as their colorful critter takes shape.
Children are able to practice skills such as fine motor control, handwriting, and following step by step directions when they make this bug themed Valentine. Creating a homemade Valentine for someone they care about also supports emotional expression and encourages kindness.
We have a printable template to use along with a few common supplies like cardstock, scissors, and glue to make this adorable paper caterpillar Valentine. Keep reading below for our detailed instructions on how to complete each step.
Supplies
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Marker
- Valentine Caterpillar Template (click the “click here to get your freebies” image at the end of the post)
Directions
Start by printing the template, then gather the materials for this fun activity. Get those scissors ready, and let’s help the kids bring this caterpillar to life!
Look for the eyes and add a small dot of glue to the back of each one. Press them onto the caterpillar’s head and hold for a second so they stick nicely.
Now grab the antennae pieces and glue them to the back of the head so they stick out from the top.
Use a marker and let your kid draw on a nose to give their caterpillar some personality. Take a look at it together and enjoy how cute it’s turning out already.
Find the five body segments and lay them out in a row. Let your child choose the order and overlap each circle slightly, then glue them together. This is a fun way to practice fine motor skills while building the caterpillar.
Lastly, glue the caterpillar onto the center of the leaf. Watch as the caterpillar really comes to life!
Don’t you just love how sweet and simple this Valentine caterpillar craft is? It’s the perfect low prep activity for kids and makes an adorable Valentine to share. Be sure to check out our other quick Valentine crafts while you’re here for more easy ideas your kids will love creating.
Valentine’s Day Books for Children
Love From The Crayons – If your kids love any of the Crayon books, they’ll want to read this Valentine version where the crayons explore the bright colors and subtle shades of love.
The Invisible String – This is a sweet story all children will want to hear. It’s about a mother who tells her two children that they’re all connected by an invisible string.
Little Blue Truck’s Valentine – Join Little Blue Truck as he delivers Valentine’s Day cards to all his farm animal friends. As he does, he wonders, will anyone give one to him?
Other Valentine Crafts That Work for This Age
Cat Valentine Craft – Your little ones will pounce at the chance to create this adorable cat Valentine! They can make it as unique as their imagination when they customize the colors and details to tell someone they’re purrr-fect. Creating and personalizing their feline friend will keep little paws busy this February.
Valentine Name Craft – This personalized activity is ideal for preschoolers and kindergarteners to practice letter recognition. Making this cute little bear holding heart balloons a fun way to make learning personal and festive! We have an editable template to type in each child’s name before printing, so you can get straight to the fun.
Koala Valentine Craft – Spend koala-ty time with the kids and have them decorate their fuzzy friend with a heart that says, “Happy Valentine’s Day!” They can either share it with someone special or hang it as festive decor. This project uses simple supplies and our free template, so get creating!
Bear Valentine Craft – Have kids create a sweet bear holding a heart for Valentine’s Day! You just need construction paper, scissors, glue, and our free template. Younger cubs may need a helping paw with cutting and gluing, while older cubs can make their lovable Valentine all on their own!
Valentine Printables for the Classroom
Have kids hand out these free printable cow Valentine cards during any card exchange! Our free printable set features six cute designs with a lovable cow and a fun message that will make everyone smile.
Just print, cut, and fold the cards, then kids can write their name in the “From:” space. These cheerful cows are declaring, “I’m over the moooon for you!” and “You’re udderly fantastic!”
Deliver some galactic love with these free printable Star Wars Valentines! These cards will impress classmates and show friends they care at a classroom exchange or just as a special greeting.
Kids can practice fine motor skills and handwriting while cutting out and addressing the cards. There’s six designs featuring Darth Vader, Boba Fett, R2-D2, and other favorites, so young Jedi will have a blast spreading Valentine’s Day cheer across the galaxy!
Keep your little loves busy and curious with these Valentine activity sheets! Kids can count, match, and navigate mazes while having fun with love themed pictures like heart bottles, sweet treats, and rainbow charms.
These activities introduce sorting, observation, problem solving, and early math skills. They’ll guide a heart through a maze and pair shadows and matching objects. Children will stay engaged, practice focus, and enjoy the satisfaction of completing each challenge.
A fun way to celebrate together is with a game! Use this Valentine dinosaur game to play bingo with your preschoolers. The five boards feature heart covered dinos and calling cards with numbers 0–10.
Just print, grab some bingo markers, and let the prehistoric party begin. Kids will practice number recognition, matching, and visual scanning all while playing a fun game. It’s an easy, print-and-go activity that preschoolers will love!
Share With Us
Did you make this activity with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!
For a chance to have your child’s project featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!
Valentine Caterpillar Craft
Materials
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Marker
- Valentine Caterpillar Template
Instructions
- Print the template and gather the materials for this fun activity.
- Begin by gluing the eyes onto the caterpillar head, just below both eyebrows.
- Next, glue the antennae to the back and top of the head.
- Use a marker to draw a nose between the eyes and the mouth.
- Now, arrange the six body segments in a row with slight overlap and glue them together.
- Lastly, glue the finished caterpillar onto the center of the leaf.
Video
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Free Valentine Caterpillar Template
Meet Sam
Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump, and more.
