Valentine's greetings from the Kid's Corner!

One thing I have thoroughly enjoyed in living on the Eastern Shore the past 18 years is the wealth of arts and crafts this area has to offer through the art centers, local preschools and the many art festivals.

It is a mother's or dad's dream of a place in raising their children.

Our community is so fortunate to have many gifted individuals and associations that offer our children the best. It's my heart and objective to offer my readers simple ideas to enrich their young child's awareness and appreciation of seasonal favorites as well as understanding how their young children think and develop.

One thing I love to do as an early childhood teacher is for my students to make and create Valentines that they can mail to themselves and their families.

We like to make the old fashion valentines out of left over scrap materials, pieces of lace, doilies which can be bought for $1 or even made out of white paper in which you cut out a snowflake.

Add buttons or whatever you have around the house. Let your child glue and make his/her own designs. Make this an afternoon family craft time. Help your young child to address an envelope that is to come back to them. Let them help you stamp it.

Then try to mail it from the post office for them to have a hands on field trip.

Not only have you covered a seasonal craft lesson but also you have taught your child how to mail a letter and to learn about the postal service.

The gleam in their eyes and the excitement in their response when they receive back their own letters is something they will never forget.

To teach young children responsibilities throughout the month of February, do a Happy Valentine's Coupon Book.

Coupons can cover chores such as making beds, washing dishes or hugs. Last week I asked my young students what they did to help mom when she was tired? One of my little boys responded, "I give her a cup of coffee."

Hey put that on a coupon, too.

Other simple Valentine gifts to make with your child are to make heart in hand valentine cards, finger paint Valentine cards, Valentine heart animals or old fashion Valentine boxes made out of shoe boxes to receive valentine mail from home and school.

Valentine heart wreaths are a favorite too made around a paper plate.

Heart shape jello jigglers are a healthy snack for young children as well as making heart shape sandwiches.

Take your child's favorite sandwich, cut the bread into a heart shape and it will delight your child's heart.

Remember Abraham Lincoln's birthday on Feb. 12. Take a penny, put a light piece of paper over it and lightly color over the penny to see Lincoln's face appear on the paper.

Cut a log cabin from a brown paper bag and glue a penny square in the middle. Show Lincoln's face on the $5 bill.

Honor George Washington on Feb. 22 by going over the quarter and the $1 bill.

Don't forget to make or buy a cherry pie to remember the honesty of our first president when he had admitted he had cut down the cherry tree. Teaching history through eating!

As Cupid shoots arrows of love toward your child's way, give your young child your heart which includes time well spent with them!

Beth Pinyerd serves as director of Young Children at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort, Ala.