February is here and with it comes an assortment of holidays and fun. This winter, we have been hit with a great deal of snow, particularly up in the northeast. Having a lot of snow days can bring about parents feeling lost with what to do with the kids cooped up all day. Listed below are several arts and crafts projects for your kiddos and you to make together to remedy the winter blues.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is approaching quickly and a handmade craft by your little kiddo is the perfect way for them to tell someone they love them. Here are a couple crafts for kids to make to celebrate those they love.

Handprint Heart Magnet (great for the younger kiddos!)

Materials: Red Washable Paint, White Card stock (preferably, or similar thick paper) or White Construction Paper, Paint Brush, Red Crayon, Sticky Back Magnet, Black Sharpie or Permanent Marker

1. Paint child's hands with red paint, or have them dip their hands in red paint.

2. Make child's handprints on the white paper. *NOTE: When doing the handprints, make the thumbs and index fingers meetthis forms a heart shape (upside down). It does not need to be a perfect heart shape, just make sure to tilt the hands to make this shape.

3. Allow paint to dry.

4. Put the handprints upside down and highlight the heart shape by drawing an outline of the thumb/index finger heart shape.

5. Write Always hold on to my heart within the heart shape or on the handprints with permanent marker

6. Cut around the handprints and stick a magnet on the back.

Thumbody Love You Picture Frame

Materials: Popsicle Sticks, Wood or Hot Glue, Red Ink Pad or Red Paint, Child's Photo, Foam Heart Stickers or Candy Hearts, Poster Board or Thick Paper.

1. Glue child's picture on a small square piece of poster board. Please note: The photo needs to be cut down or small enough to fit within a popsicle stick frame (4 popsicle sticks making a square).

2. Have child stick foam heart stickers or candy hearts around their picture. Be sure they don't stick them on their picture!

3. Glue 4 popsicle sticks together to make a square frame.

4. Press child's thumb into red ink pad or paint and press onto the 2 vertical (sides) popsicle sticks. Do 5 thumb prints on both popsicle sticks each.

5. On the top (horizontal) popsicle stick, write Thumbody loves you.... On the bottom (horizontal) popsicle stick, write That thumbody is me!.

6. On the 4 corners of the popsicle stick frame, put heart stickers.

7. Glue popsicle stick frame onto photograph from earlier.

8. On the back of the poster board/photograph, write Happy Valentine's Day 2011!

Black History Month

In school, your child will be learning about significant African Americans that made a difference in our world from Martin Luther King to George Washington Carver. Bring the learning home with these black history crafts for your kiddos!

I Have a Dream

Materials: Construction paper, Black Permanent Marker, Crayons and Coloring Tools

1. Write I have a dream that... on a piece of construction paper.

2. Explain to your child what Martin Luther King meant by dreamhis vision for the world. Ask your child what they want to happen in the world. This can be silly answers such as candy houses to something more serious as well.

3. Instruct your child to draw what they told you.

4. For younger kids who are just scribbling, ask the child to identify the things in the picture and label them.

Garret Morgan and the Traffic Light

Materials: Black Construction Paper, Glue, Paint Brush, Red, Yellow and Green M & Ms.

Prior to Craft: Explain who Garret Morgan was, that he invented the traffic light and why it's important.

1. Cut out a wide rectangle on the black construction paper. (a traffic light shape)

2. Trace 3 equal circles onto the black traffic light.

3. Have child apply glue (a good amount) on the three light circlesone at a time.

4. Have the child glue red m & ms on top, yellow in the middle and green on the bottom and of course let the child snack on some m & ms too!

I hope you enjoy these fun crafts for kids. Expect more for each month of the year. Have Fun!