How to use the heart page
Ask your toddler who the heart is for: a grandparent, a sibling, the dog. Having someone to give it to makes the page feel important. While they color, say the person's name and talk about them, which keeps the session warm and gives the coloring a purpose.
Toddlers can also make a heart in another way: draw dots on it with the tip of a washable marker, or press a fingertip dipped in washable paint all over it. Either method is easier than coloring for a very young child and still fills the shape. When it is done, write the child's name and the date on the back. Five minutes is plenty; if they want to keep going, print a second heart in a different color.
Questions
What age is the heart page for?
It is made for toddlers from about eighteen months to three years. One big heart with a very thick line gives a clear, easy target for a first coloring page.
Can my toddler use paint on it?
Yes, washable finger paint works well. Print on thicker paper or card stock so the sheet does not wrinkle, and lay down newspaper or a mat first.
How do I turn it into a card?
Fold the sheet in half with the heart on the outside, then write a short message inside. Card stock makes a sturdier card that stands up on a shelf.