Valentine’s Day Sensory Bottles for Preschoolers

I don’t know a teacher, or a mom, who hasn’t mastered the art of multitasking. Raise your hand if you’ve ever: washed the shower while you’re in it, caught up on your favorite show while folding laundry, or checked your email while your students are working.

Because there’s always SO much to do, and there’s never enough TIME to do it, we figure out those little hacks that work for us to accomplish what we need to in a day. I’m pretty sure that’s where theme learning activities and cross-curricular projects were born!

The Valentine’s Day Sensory Bottles for Preschoolers can be a craft and a sensory activity for Valentine’s Day in one fun multitasking bottle! One easy activity covers Valentine’s Day sensory play, fine motor skills, AND it becomes an activity for toddlers and preschoolers to use to cope when emotions run high.

Pair this Valentine’s Day Sensory Bottle with a fun book for an engaging Valentine’s Day circle time activity.

Valentine’s Day Sensory Activities for Preschoolers

Preschool lesson plans are typically crammed with play and learning activities kids love. We use seasons and holidays to teach about the world toddlers and preschoolers are just getting to know.

Sensory Valentines activities like art projects, a Valentine sensory bin, a heart themed sensory bag, or hands-on math manipulatives like candy hearts or red pom poms allow preschoolers to explore math and language concepts in a festive way.

Creating sensory experiences for our youngest learners ensures they explore concepts with all of their senses: sight, smell, touch, hearing, and tasting. The more diverse ways they are exposed to learning, the more likely they are to really learn and understand.

How to Make the Valentine’s Sensory Bottles

Steps:

1. Place the glitter (about 2 T.) and 10-12 rose petals in your bottle. *tiny Valentine heart confetti or beads works as well.

2. Fill half of the bottle with baby oil.

3. Fill the rest of the bottle with water.

4. Add 2-3 drops of red food coloring.

5. Screw on the cap (hot glue around the rim provides an extra seal if desired).

6. Shake, shake, shake and enjoy this fun sensory experience!

How to Use the Preschooler and Toddler Valentine Sensory Bottle

Sensory bottles can be a really practical way to help young kids calm themselves down when they get overstimulated or emotional. Just teach them to shake and watch the contents settle while they take deep breaths. When they feel calmer, they can rejoin the previous activity.

Preschool Valentine Sensory Table Ideas

Incorporate Valentine’s day sensory activities for toddlers and preschoolers by using Valentine themed sensory bin fillers in your February sensory table.

• Mix regular rice with red-dyed rice.
• Use red, pink, white, or purple pom poms.
• Add red, pink, or purple water beads.
• Use dyed red noodles in various shapes and sizes.
• Incorporate candy hearts into your normal filler for an easy Valentine’s day sensory bin.

Whichever Valentine’s Day filler you choose, feel free to incorporate letters, numbers, words, or even the science behind hearts into the sensory bin.