Valentine’s Day Counting Activity for Kids (Free Number Matching Hearts Printable) -

This simple Valentine’s Day counting activity helps little ones learn numbers while celebrating the season. A fun and free printable for preschool and homeschool.

Snag this free printable Valentines’ Day counting activity for kids!

It’s fun, festive, and one of the best Valentine’s activities preschool kids can do at home or in the classroom.

This free printable focuses on preschool math while also developing fine motor skills.

Add this cute idea to your arsenal of preschool learning activities and math Valentine’s activities for kids!

Valentine’s Day Counting Activity Instructions

A child plays a Valentine's Day counting activity with hearts and numbers.

How to Use the Valentine Heart Number Matching Printable

What you’ll need

Printed heart number matching pages
Scissors
Optional: laminator and laminating sheets
Optional: small zip bag or container for storage

Step-by-Step Instructions

A laminate heart split into two halves, one with the number 9 and one with 9 black dots.

A child plays a heart number matching game.

Print the hearts
Print the Valentine heart number matching pages on white cardstock or regular printer paper. Cardstock works best if you plan to reuse the activity.
Cut out the heart halves
Carefully cut along the solid lines to separate each heart into two halves—one with a numeral and one with matching dots.
(Optional) Laminate for durability
If you’re using this in a classroom or want it to last longer, laminate the heart pieces and trim them again.
Mix up the pieces
Place all the heart halves in a pile or spread them out face up on a table or floor. Make sure the number pieces and dot pieces are mixed together.
Match numbers to dots
Invite kids to choose a number heart, count the dots on the matching piece, and put the two halves together to build a whole heart.
Check and discuss
Once a heart is matched, have children say the number out loud and count the dots again to double-check. This reinforces number recognition and one-to-one counting.
Repeat until all hearts are matched
Continue matching until all the hearts have been paired. You can time the activity, work in small groups, or let kids complete it independently.

Extension Ideas

Order the hearts: After matching, line the completed hearts up in order from 1–10.
Play memory: Turn the pieces upside down and play a simple memory game, flipping over one number piece and one dot piece at a time.
Partner activity: Have one child be “numbers” and the other be “dots” and work together to find all their partners.

Tips, Tricks, and Fun Ways to Play

Completed heart pairs with matching numbers and dots.

Use cardstock for sturdier pieces.
Laminate the cutouts for durability.
Add Velcro dots for interactive play – Stick Velcro dots on the back of the hearts and place matching dots on a poster board or a DIY activity folder. Kids love the “stick and pull” element.
Turn it into a center or station activity – Place the hearts in a basket with simple instructions
Make a sensory bin version – Cut the hearts out and hide them in rice, pom-poms, shredded crinkle paper, or cotton balls. Kids search for the hearts before matching up the number pairs.
Make a counting and number-sense activity – After matching the number pairs, have kids place the correct number of pom-poms or small erasers on the hearts.
Turn the printable into a movement game – Tape hearts around the room so kids must find each heart half before matching them up.
Turn the printable into a quiet-time activity bag – Keep a small set of laminated hearts in a zip pouch for church, travel, restaurants, or waiting rooms.