Valentine’s Day Sensory Bin

I love sensory boxes for autism! This Valentine’s Day Sensory Bin is the perfect activity to set up for your child or students this February. It is fun and festive and a great way to build new skills. Try this adorable and fun unicorn sensory bin next!

Make sure you print out your free printable sensory box ideas checklist to get the most out of this post!

Valentine’s Day Sensory Bin Materials

• A plastic box (or a shoe box or other box you already have could work well too)
• Dried pasta
• Pompoms (pink and red)
• Paper straws (I love these red and white striped straws)
• Sparkly red velvet ribbon (I used this one)
• Clothespins

How to set up the Valentine Sensory Bin

Set up for this Valentine’s Day sensory bin activity couldn’t be any simpler! Set it up in just 6 easy steps in your Progress Nook.

• Step 1 – Choose your box.
• Step 2 – Pour in dried pasta.
• Step 3 – Add pompoms.
• Step 4 – Cut up some paper straws and top them in.
• Step 5 – Add some red velvet sparkly ribbon.
• Step 6 – Add in the clothespins.

How to use the Valentine’s Day Sensory Box with Children with Autism

Create Sensory Breaks

Just prompt your little learner to put his or her hands into the box and touch the different items for a simple sensory experience that would make a perfect sensory break idea.

Use it with these printable sensory break cards for best results.

Build Communication Skills

• Build expressive communication skills by having your child take one item out at a time and just ask “what is that?”. Have them name the item! If they need a prompt to say the word, give it to them. Fade your prompts as quickly as possible.

• Build receptive communication skills by asking your child to find one item at a time, for example, say “find a pompom!” to work on the receptive comprehension of the word “pompom”.

Make sure you download your free printable
sensory box ideas checklist!

Build colors

• Work on naming colors by having your child or students name the color of each item.

• Work on the receptive understanding of each color by having your child or students find each color following a prompt, such as “find the pink pompom!”.

Build Fine Motor Skills

By teaching your little learner to use a clothespin to pick up each item, you are helping your little one build fine motor strength and precision.

Take Turns

This activity is a great way to teach taking turns. Find one item and then have your little one find another item and keep taking turns until you have taken all the different items out of the sensory box).

Make sure you download your free printable
sensory box ideas checklist!

More Sensory Activities You Will Love

• Spring Sensory Bin
• Fall Sensory Bin
• Dinosaur Play Dough Mats
• Winter Play Dough Mats
• Sensory Swing (how to choose a sensory swing)
• Sensory Toys for Autistic Children
• Light Table Activities
• Spring Sensory Box
• Shape Sensory Bin
• Garden Sensory Bin
• Easter Sensory Bin

More Autism Learning Resources

• The Successful Interaction with a Child with Autism Course – learn to better understand your autistic child or students with this complete course.
• Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
• Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
• How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
• Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!

Valentine’s Day Sensory Bin

This Valentine’s Day sensory bin is so much fun! Use it to build communication skills, fine motor skills, taking turns, fine motor skills and more in a fun and tactile way.

Pin for later!