Sewn paper heart valentine holders encourage fine motor skills in preschoolers. On red and pink construction paper, trace hearts big enough to fill the entire page. Help each child cut out two hearts. Stack the two hearts, then punch holes an inch apart along the sides and bottom of the hearts. Let children decorate the hearts and write on their names. Cut a 40-inch piece of yarn for each child and wrap a small piece of masking tape around one end of the yarn. Tie the untaped end through the top holes on one side of the hearts, then have children weave the yarn through the rest of the holes. Tie off the string at the end.
Ask each child to bring in an empty tissue box -- the square kind works best. Help each child cover his box with plain brown or white paper and glue or tape the ends together. Use scissors or a knife to cut away the paper from the opening in the box where tissues came out. Trace hearts on construction paper, then help each child write his name on one heart and cut it out. Children can draw designs onto their mailboxes or glue on decorations made from construction paper, then finish off the box by gluing on their name hearts.
Paper bag mailboxes are the simplest mailboxes you can create, which is ideal if you have a pack of preschoolers to help. Give each child a large brown paper bag along with art supplies and construction paper. Each child can personalize her own bag however she chooses. Roll down the top edges of the bags to help them stay open, then help children cut hearts from pink and red paper and glue them onto their bags. They can also color on designs or glue on red or pink streamers.
Mailboxes made from cereal boxes look elaborate, but they're easy enough for preschoolers to make with some adult help. Have each child bring in an empty cereal box. Glue the top flaps closed, then cut a horizontal slit through the front and sides of the box about 2 inches from the top. The top of the box should now flip open so valentines can slip inside. Cover the box with white paper so children can add personal decorations. You can also trace the letters of each child's name onto construction paper. This mailbox is big enough for each child to glue the letters of his name to the front.