Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, and it’s important to recognize love in all its forms, including the bond between parents and children, friends, and caregivers. At Blossom Children’s Center, we believe in fostering inclusive environments where each child can participate in the joy of crafting and expressing themselves. We believe children learn best when they are engaged and regulated. Let’s take a dive into 5 sensory-friendly Valentine’s Day crafts designed to engage and benefits children of all abilities.

The Importance of Inclusive Activities

Inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do at Blossom Children’s Center. We recognize that every child is unique, with their own set of abilities, challenges, and sensory preferences. By offering inclusive activities, we ensure that all children feel valued, respected, and included in the learning and creative process. Inclusive activities promote socialization, empathy, and understanding among children of diverse backgrounds, fostering a sense of belonging and community.

Sensory-Friendly Valentine’s Day Crafts

Crafting is not only a fun and creative activity but also an excellent way to promote sensory exploration and development in children. Sensory-friendly crafts are designed to accommodate children with sensory sensitivities or challenges, providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all participants. Here are five sensory-friendly Valentine’s Day crafts that children of all abilities can enjoy:

1. Heart-shaped Hand Painting

Pick out washable tempera paint colors, purple, red and pink. As children engage in this activity, they can develop fine motor skills by carefully painting and pressing their hands onto the paper. Additionally, they can learn about colors, shapes, and spatial awareness as they decorate their heart-shaped creations. This hands-on craft also encourages creativity and self-expression, fostering a sense of accomplishment and pride in their finished artwork.

2. Sensory Valentine’s Day Cards

Instead of traditional paper cards, encourage children to create sensory Valentine’s Day cards using textured materials such as fabric scraps, yarn, or textured paper. Children can explore different textures and incorporate them into their designs, adding a unique sensory element to their creations. This tactile activity promotes sensory integration, creativity, and self-expression, allowing children to create personalized cards for their loved ones.

3. Heart-shaped Clay Creations

Working with clay is an excellent way to engage the senses and promote fine motor skills in children. Provide children with heart-shaped clay cutouts and let them mold, shape, and decorate their own Valentine’s Day creations. They can add texture using tools or their fingers, and embellish their creations with beads, sequins, or other small decorations. This hands-on activity offers sensory input through touch, proprioception, and creative expression, fostering imagination and exploration.

4. Valentine’s Day-Themed Sensory Bin

Start by filling a container with materials like heart-shaped confetti, red and pink pom poms, and small heart stickers. As children explore the bin, they engage their senses of touch, sight, and even sound, stimulating sensory development. Additionally, this activity encourages fine motor skills as they pick up and manipulate the various objects, fosters creativity as they arrange and design within the bin, and promotes language development through discussion of colors, shapes, and textures. Overall, this craft provides a fun and educational way for kids to celebrate Valentine’s Day while learning through play.

5. Heart-shaped Sensory Bottles

Create mesmerizing sensory bottles filled with glitter, sequins, and heart-shaped confetti. Children can customize their bottles by choosing their favorite colors and decorations to fill them with. As they shake and observe the swirling contents, they’ll experience visual and auditory sensory input, promoting relaxation and concentration. Sensory bottles are also excellent tools for self-regulation and calming strategies, making them ideal for children with sensory sensitivities or challenges.

Blossom Children’s Center: Providing an Inclusive Environment for Early Intervention ABA Therapy

At Blossom Children’s Center, we are committed to providing inclusive and supportive environments where every child can thrive and reach their full potential. Through early intervention programs and sensory-friendly activities like these Valentine’s Day crafts, we empower children with diverse abilities to learn, grow, and express themselves in meaningful ways. This Valentine’s Day, let’s celebrate love, friendship, and inclusion as we engage in sensory-rich experiences that bring joy and connection to children of all abilities. To find out more about our play-based ABA therapy approach, please visit our website, or reach out to our team today to have your little one enrolled in our early intervention center!