Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day Treasure Blocks

February 22, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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To add interest to block play activities, treasure blocks are always a good choice. Their contents can be changed to match the current theme you are doing as well as your child’s interests. Since we are in the month of February, Valentine’s Day treasure blocks blend in perfectly and can be used in a variety of creative ways.

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Supplies To Collect

There’s no shortage of items to gather for valentine treasure blocks. You can go entirely with recycled loose parts or use economical purchased items. Or you can use a few of both.

The supplies I feature are red, pink, purple, and white – traditional Valentine’s Day colors. Gathered and added to the blocks are:

cut straws
beads cut from garland and necklaces
buttons
heart and rainbow erasers
acrylic hearts
gem craft hearts
hair ties

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Valentine’s Day Treasure Block Activities

At first, the filled treasure blocks can be set out on their own on a table or in a carpeted area for children to explore.

The blocks can be used as musical shakers, and children can be challenged to order them from quietest to loudest. With my blocks, the one with the hair ties hardly makes a sound, and the ones with bead garland balls and acrylic hearts tie for making the loudest sound.

These Valentine's Day treasure block shakers can be ordered by softest to loudest sounds.

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Another day, introduce new items to the treasure block play area. Featured here are little monsters, inspired by the endearingly illustrated storybook “Love Monster” by Rachel Bright, and Valentine’s Day loose parts. The monsters are actually repurposed dog toys, so they stand up superbly to block play! And they are squeaky, adding another element of sound to the play experience. Pairing the blocks, monster figurines, and loose parts together encourages children to think creatively in new ways.

These Valentine's Day treasure blocks offer a host of learning opportunities paired with monsters and loose parts.

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Asking the question “What can you build for the monsters?” will foster even more creativity. When I asked my preschoolers this question some of the answers were:

“I’m building a monster lair.”
“I am going to make a monster hiding place.”
“I made a house for the monsters.”

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More Block Play Possibilities

Pairing treasure blocks with mirror blocks is always a hit. The blocks are similar in size and shape and combine well for building large structures.

Pair Valentine's Day treasure blocks with mirror blocks and monsters for creative and imaginative play.

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And counting monster teeth and eyes, and discussing block shapes are ways to incorporate math into the play.

On their own, or combined with loose parts and other blocks, Valentine’s Day treasure blocks offer many opportunities for learning.

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Heart-Shaped Dissolving Candy Science

February 20, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Valentine’s Day has passed, but it is Heart Month in Canada and the United States. So I am squeezing in this heart-shaped dissolving candy science experiment before I put all the valentine items away for the season. It’s an easy and fun experiment for all ages, so be sure to give it a try.

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Supplies To Collect

There are just four items to gather for this fascinating color experiment that I cannot get enough of:

round, square, or rectangular tray (white or clear)
striped red and white candies
plastic or wooden heart outline
measuring cup with a spout

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The Heart-Shaped Dissolving Candy Science Experiment

Easy steps to perform a heart-shaped dissolving candy science experiment.

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First, pick a large heart outline. A wooden or plastic heart would work, or you could cut one from a generous piece of red craft foam. I used one that was previously part of a heart-themed wall hanging.

Place the outline in a white or clear tray that is slightly bigger than the heart.

Next, lay candies around the inside of the heart outline. Featured here are Starlight Mints purchased at a Dollar Store. They have flat sides, so seem destined for this experiment!

Then fill a 500 ml cup with a spout with warm water. Or use a large cup or water bottle.

Slowly pour the water into the bin. Add just enough liquid so the bottom is covered.

Watch what happens! And have your camera ready to snap some stunning pictures.

An easy to perform heart-shaped dissolving candy science experiment. A simple experiment with amazing results.

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Try this heart-shaped dissolving candy science experiment today! It is simple and brings the WOW factor.

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For the science behind this experiment, visit my blogpost Candy Cane Science Experiment.

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Side Note: I wasn’t sure what to call the heart shape I feature in this science experiment. One of the search words for suggestions I used was heart rims. Who knew that you could get heart-patterned rims for car tires!

If you give this heart-shaped dissolving candy science experiment a try, tag me on Instagram and I will share your post in my stories.

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Strawberry Hot Chocolate Bin

February 19, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A dreamy, taste-safe strawberry hot chocolate sensory bin to let your little learners explore. This activity is perfect for a party day or any day!

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This taste safe strawberry hot chocolate bin is sure to excite your little learner. It incorporates marshmallows, lollipops, and pouring with a miniature tea set, all mega-hits with young children.

For this activity I originally planned to try a classic hot chocolate sensory bin, using chocolate-flavored candies or lollipops. But I didn’t have any luck finding hard chocolate candy. So, a dreamy strawberry hot chocolate-themed bin it is.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this taste safe sensory bin:

red and pink heart-shaped lollipops
mini marshmallows
miniature toy tea set
small white tub
cool water

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Introducing The Strawberry Hot Chocolate Bin

First, thoroughly sanitize the tub and toy tea set.

Note: If more than one child is participating in this activity, give them their own bin.

Then set the tea set in the bin, and add an inch of cool water. Invite your little learner to play with the cups and saucers and pot in the bin.

A dreamy, taste-safe strawberry hot chocolate sensory tub to let your little learners explore.

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Next, drop in two lollipops. Suggest that a little tasting is allowed, but that the lollipops should go back in the bin afterward. Draw attention to the gradual color change in the water: the liquid slowly changes to light pink. And observe that the lollipops shrink over time.

A lollipop and tea set sensory bin your little learner will love to explore. This sensory bin is toatally taste-safe.

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Then sprinkle a few mini marshmallows into the bin. Encourage your little learner to include the marshmallows in pouring activities.

Tip: Staggering the addition of marshmallows and lollipops extends the time the children will spend in the sensory activity.

This sensory bin is totally taste safe, and part of the experience is to be able to taste the lollipops, marshmallows, and flavored water. The colored water will likely have a light, fruity taste.

Make sure hands are washed very carefully after playing in the bin, as they will be a little sticky.

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Benefits Of This Sensory Bin

There are many benefits of this tasty sensory bin:

exercising eye-hand coordination in pouring “hot chocolate” and sipping from tiny cups.
experiencing a color change science experiment when lollipops are added to the bin.
encouraging language development by describing the look and feel of the bin and the taste of the lollipops, marshmallows and water.
discussing that sweet treats should be eaten in moderation.
experiencing joy by participating in an unexpected, new, super fun sensory activity.

This strawberry hot chocolate bin is perfect for a party day such as Valentine’s Day. It would also work wonderfully for a Mother’s Day celebration.

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Strawberry Hot Chocolate Recipes

If you would like to try or serve authentic strawberry hot chocolate, here’s a couple of blogs with delicious recipe posts:

Sprinkle Bakes features an instant strawberry hot cocoa mix.

My Heavenly Recipes showcases a strawberry hot chocolate recipe.

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Related: Candy Cane Science Experiment

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Ladybug Wand Craft

February 13, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Last month my preschoolers made simple snowflake wands to coordinate with winter and “Frozen” activities. The crafted wands generated lots of enthusiasm, and children were excited to use them in play. Because of their exuberant response, I decided to offer similar projects in the future. This ladybug wand craft is the next one we will do. I’m sure my little learners will enjoy making it, and I think yours will too!

With wings cut from a heart, this cute craft fits in perfectly with Valentine’s Day but could be offered in spring or any other time of the year.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

For this buggy craft, gather the following:

red and black cardstock
black adhesive gems
red and white thin ribbon
wiggly eyes
straws
glue stick
glue gun
scissors

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Making The Ladybug Wand Craft

Steps to make a cute ladybug wand craft early learners will love to help create and play with.

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First, cut large circular ladybug bodies from black cardstock, and similar-sized hearts from red. Then cut the red hearts in half to become wings.

Snip a few kinds of ribbon into strands about the length of a straw. Hot glue the ribbon strands to the top of the straws.

Then invite children to add black adhesive gem spots to a pair of red wings, and adhere them to their circle with a glue stick.

Afterward, they can add a pair of wiggly eyes.

Finally, glue the ladybugs to the top of the straws and invite crafters to play with their wands.

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Ladybug Facts

Ladybugs are well-loved by children. Even when they don’t especially like other insects, little learners are usually excited to hold a dainty ladybug and study it closely. Here are facts to share with little ones when they spot ladybugs while playing.

Ladybugs are a kind of beetle and can be found in a variety of habitats.
There are more than 5000 kinds of ladybugs.
Although shiny, red and black spotted dome shaped ladybugs are most familiar in North America, these adored creatures come in a variety of bright colors.
Ladybugs have from five to twenty spots, which can fade over time.
Their colors and spots help warn predators that they are not pleasant to eat.
With their six feet and two antennae, ladybugs smell and look for food. They use their front legs to clean their heads and antennae.
Their two eyes can distinguish between dark and light, but ladybugs don’t see well.
A pair of colorful hard, top wings protect two transparent, veined inner flying wings.
Ladybugs help the environment by eating pesky bugs such as aphids and mites, and spreading pollen.

A host of ladybug facts to share with early learners.

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Birds are huge predators. Other animals that like to eat ladybugs are frogs, lizards, wasps, spiders, and dragonflies.
In addition to flashing their spots and bright colors, ladybugs secrete oily, stinky, bad tasting, yellow drops of fluid from joints in their legs to discourage predators. They can also play dead.
Ladybugs are either male or female.
Over a period of about seven weeks, ladybugs develop in four stages: eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults.
Tiny yellow eggs are laid in batches on the underside of leaves near aphid colonies.
Colonies of ladybugs hibernate over the winter in warm spots such as in rotting logs or ground cover, or under rocks and snowdrifts. Thousands of these little bugs may gather together.
Ladybugs commonly live for about one year, but some live two to three years.

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It’ll soon be spring, and all kinds of bugs will be crawling around. You’ll want to include this captivating ladybug wand craft in your insect theme activities. You could also offer it for Valentine’s Day along with the love bug headband craft featured below.

Pair a ladybug wand craft with a love bug headband for a session of buggy dramatic play.

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Related: Spider Theme Activities

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Dragon Necklace Craft

February 12, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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The first few weeks of this year have gone by so fast! Between winter, Chinese New Year, and Valentine’s Day, there have been so many activities to choose from. This dragon necklace craft was meant to be completed in early February for Chinese New Year, but time didn’t permit. And so my little learners will be making it next week.

Dragons are seen as positive creatures in Chinese culture. They symbolize wisdom, power, and prosperity, as well as fertility, long life, and good luck. Dragon dances are a big part of Chinese New Year celebrations. And since the new year festivities happen around the same time as Valentine’s Day, hearts are the perfect embellishment to be included in the dragon jewelry craft.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Craft supplies to make a dragon necklace craft your children will love to do.

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For these colorful dragon necklaces, gather the following supplies:

thick craft foam in colors of choice
wiggly eyes
adhesive round and heart-shaped gems
lacing string
small paper clips
scissors
hot glue gun

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Making The Dragon Necklace Craft

To start the project off, cut small dragons from craft foam colors of choice.

Steps to make a dragon necklace craft your children will love. An all-ages dragon-themed jewelry craft project.

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If desired, you can download this free template.

Free template to make a dragon necklace craft your children will love to do.

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Dragon Necklace Craft PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Invite little learners to decorate a dragon with sticker gem hearts and circles.

Next, use a hot glue gun to add a wiggly eye and tongue to each dragon, and a paper clip to the back.

Then cut lacing string into 26-inch lengths. Loop the cut string through the paperclips, and tie the ends together. Make sure to adjust the length of the strings so the necklaces fit properly.

Allow your little charges to wear their creations. Have a camera ready to snap some pictures.

Note: You can choose red or gold craft foam for the dragons in this craft, as they are traditional Chinese New Year colors. Or you could offer foam dragons in a variety of colors.

Easy and fun dragon necklace children's jewelry craft suitable for all ages.

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Color Meanings In Chinese Culture

The dragon necklace craft in this post is featured in red, yellow, green, blue, and orange colors. Here’s what these colors mean in Chinese culture.

Red symbolizes excitement, good fortune, and happiness.
Yellow stands for royalty and prosperity.
Green represents harmony, health, and spring.
Blue symbolizes growth, optimism, and peace.
Orange represents harvest, happiness, and celebrations.

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Whether children perceive dragons to be scaly, scary, and fire-breathing, or friendly and helpful, they’ll be super excited to make and wear this craft.

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Related: Bat Necklace Craft

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Valentine’s Day Water Play

February 7, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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A Valentine’s Day water play activity is quick and easy to set up, and supplies are low cost. The activity helps create a festive ambiance on a party day or any day!

The weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day are a good time to visit stores to collect Valentine-themed supplies for all kinds of learning opportunities, including water play. No store is off-limits for gathering hands-on materials.

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Supplies To Collect

Here’s a list of supplies that work well in a Valentine-themed water table or tub. Pick the ones you have handy, or can easily and economically find in a store.

alphabet letters that spell the word “LOVE”
heart ice cube trays
red and pink buttons
heart-shaped gems
bendy heart people
red and pink ducklings
valentine erasers
pink and red rainbow erasers
styrofoam hearts
cut striped red and white straws
red coins
wiggly eye rings
heart-shaped measuring cups
treat baskets and boxes

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The Valentine’s Day Water Play Activity

Add warm water to a large water table for group sharing, or set out a small white washtub with water for each child. Throw in Valentine’s Day loose parts that you have available.

The tub below has clear water, and the colors and shapes of the supplies can be easily seen and admired in the white bin.

Valentine's Day loose parts that work well in a water play activity, or a tub with a rice or chickpea base.

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After a little while, you could add red food coloring to the water to extend interest.

A fun and friendly Valentine's Day water play activity your early learners will love to participate in. A quick and easy sensory bin to set up.

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Or you could add dish detergent to create bubbles, so fitting for Valentine’s Day activity.

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Benefits Of Water Play

Here are some benefits of this water play activity:

sorting shapes (math – set making; language development – color recognition)
counting shapes (math – counting)
comparing shapes to those of other children (language development; paying attention to detail)
filling and emptying treat boxes (eye-hand coordination; math/language development – empty/full)
noticing how some shapes stick to others (science)
recognizing letters of the alphabet (language development – letter recognition)
discovering beautiful themed items (creativity)

Water play is an embraced activity any day. For another time, the Valentine-themed supplies could be included in a rice or chickpea sensory tub.

Can you think of supplies to add to my list? Share in a comment below.

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Heart Doily Gnome Valentines

February 5, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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These adorable heart doily gnome valentines will add a major dose of cuteness to your holiday décor. Little learners can review shapes while you work on the project. And wouldn’t the valentine crafts look great displayed together on a classroom wall? To make the papercraft super easy, I’ve included a free printable for downloading below.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

For the gnome valentines, gather the following supplies:

4-inch red paper heart doilies
6-inch white paper heart doilies
red, white and grey cardstock
cardstock in different flesh tones
valentine scrapbook paper
8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock or construction paper
heart paper punch
black felt pen
glue stick

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Making The Heart Doily Gnome Valentines

Steps to create an adorable heart doily gnome valentine.

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There’s a bit of cutting to do in order to set up this valentine gnome craft. The good news is that it can be completely made of paper, keeping the project low cost. If desired, download this free template for the shapes.

Heart gnome template to use to make adorable gnome valentines.

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Heart Gnome Valentine PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Tip: Construction paper or cardstock works best for the papercraft.

Cut an oval nose and two circle hands from flesh-colored paper, and punch or cut a small heart “pom pom” from white. Snip a heart valentine (the smallest one on the template) from red paper, and two oval shoes from grey. Finally, cut a curved, pointy hat from scrapbook paper of choice.

Using a glue stick, adhere the red heart doily upside down near the bottom of an 8 ½ x 11-inch sheet of sturdy paper. This heart will be the lower body of the gnome.

Glue the large white heart right side up halfway over the red lacy one to serve as a beard.

Note: The heart doilies help make for an exquisite craft, but they can easily be substituted with paper ones. Included on the template are two heart shapes that can be used instead.

Center the flesh-colored oval in the middle of the top of the white heart for the nose.

Creating this huggable valentine gnome will be fun for the whole family. Free printable included for easy crafting.

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Paste on the scrapbook paper hat.

Write a message on the smaller red heart with a black felt pen. Then glue it to the white one.

Adhere the circles to serve as hands holding the valentine heart, and the white heart to the tip of the curved hat for a pom pom.

Glue the grey ovals on the bottom of the red doily heart to become shoes.

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Multicultural Heart Doily Gnome Valentines

Multicultural heart doily valentine gnomes that are fun for the whole family to make. Free printable included for easy crafting.

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The heart gnomes can be crafted in different flesh tones, making the project multicultural. And while putting together this craft with little learners, heart, circle, and oval shapes can be discussed.

Adorable multicultural gnome valentine with exquisite heart doilies taking center stage.

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Tip: Paint samples work well for the nose and hands, as they come in so many flesh tones.

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Sweet multicultural gnome valentine with exquisite heart doilies taking center stage.

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Six Gnome Facts

Gnome ornaments and crafts have been extremely popular in the last few years. If you are interested in finding out a little more about these mythical beings, here are a few facts:

Gnomes are legendary creatures originating in European stories.
They are small men with pointy hats and long, white beards.
These imaginative creatures live in dark, rural places such as forests or underground burrows.
Gnomes are considered to be industrious, kind, and wise.
Guarding the earth and wildlife are important to gnomes.
Garden gnomes originated in Germany in the mid 1800s and are prevalent today.

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You are going to love creating these huggable gnomes! Tag me on Instagram with your creations and I’ll share them in my stories!

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Multicultural heart doily gnome valentines that are fun for the whole family to make. Free printable included for easy crafting.

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Related: Leprechaun Sensory Play

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Candy Cane Science Experiment

January 1, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This Christmas I went on a candy cane hunt, primarily to add a few of these festive treats to my preschoolers’ party bags. Although easy to find in the past, I visited three different stores before I spotted some.

Candy canes had been brought up in class discussions, so I thought the children would be excited to discover them in their party bags. As I tried to give one child extra candy canes for his siblings, I noticed that he was furiously trying to give his original ones away. It turned out that he immensely dislikes them! So needless to say, there were a few candy canes leftover at school after the holiday celebrations.

So then came Plan B…the decision to use some for this easy-peasy candy cane science experiment.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather just three supplies for an easy-to-perform candy cane or candy experiment with a WOW factor.

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The supplies for this science experiment couldn’t be any simpler. Gather the following three things:

white or cream-colored dinner plate with a rim
cup of warm water
two large candy canes

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Conducting The Candy Cane Science Experiment

Try this candy cane Science experiment today! It is easy to do and has immediate results.

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Place two candy canes in the center of the plate in a heart shape.

Slowly pour in warm water to a level just beneath the plate rim.

The food coloring will immediately diffuse from the candy canes, and the color patterns will change right before your eyes!

This experiment can be tried with other colors of these treats. The red, pink, and white color scheme below would work perfectly for Valentine’s Day.

This easy to perform heart-themed candy cane science experiment is perfect for Valentine's Day. Give it a try!

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Variation Of The Candy Cane Experiment

There was a second candy escapade this holiday season, as a type of striped, spherical, Christmas candies I purchased turned out to be much too hard. I tasted one, and it just wouldn’t dissolve in my mouth. I imagined students choking on the candy on the drive home from preschool, and didn’t want to risk that. As you might have guessed, the super hard candies didn’t make the treat bag cut.

Conveniently, these holiday candies work in the same science experiment. In the picture below, the candies are arranged next to the rim of a plate. When warm water is added, green and red food colors slowly move through the liquid away from the candies. The process is so slow, the colors blend to make a rich brown hue soon after they spread. Since little learners love mixing colors to make brown, they would be excited to see this!

An oh-so-easy Christmas candy science experiment. Can't you smell the candy already?

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The candies can be placed a little farther apart around the plate rim, so the colors don’t mix as quickly when water is added. Or they can be spread apart as in the picture below. Then moving red and green colors are visible a little while after warm water is added.

Try this Christmas candy Science experiment today! It is easy to do and has immediate results.

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Tip: If the colors in the candies dissolve at a snail’s pace, as in one of my experiments, you can choose to use hot water. This will speed up the scientific process. Make sure little learners observe what happens only with their eyes, keeping their hands and bodies away from the plate.

After the science experiment is finished and the liquid is cool, you may wish to let your little charges taste a teaspoon of colored water. It will have a strong mint taste.

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A simple Christmas candy science experiment with quick results. Can't you smell the candy already?

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Explanation Of This Candy Cane/Candy Experiment

The candy canes and candies are made of sugar. The water breaks the sugar molecules apart. Then the food colors move through the water from areas of higher sugar concentration (near the candy) to areas with less sugar (the center of the plate.) When the sugar concentration is the same in all areas, the colors stop moving.

Water temperature is a variant in this experiment. Sugar dissolves quicker in warm water, and food coloring moves at a faster paste.

This science experiment is so easy to set up and has immediate results, perfect for little learners. And participants get to use their senses of sight, smell, taste, and touch. Try it today with candies or candy canes!

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This easy-peasy candy cane heart science experiment shows immediate results and brings the WOW factor, perfect for little learners!

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Valentine’s Day Gingerbread Cookies

February 18, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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After Christmas, there was enough undecorated gingerbread cookies leftover for another activity, so I thought my preschoolers could decorate Valentine’s Day gingerbread cookies.

But I wondered if it would be appropriate. I thought to myself: “Anything gingerbread is so popular at Christmas, but is doing activities with these spicy cookies a thing at other times of the year?”

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Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

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An online search revealed the following:

Each year there is a National Gingerbread Day on June 5 and a National Gingerbread Cookie Day on November 21.
A website called Favorite Family Recipes has a lovely post about making a Valentine’s Day Gingerbread House.
Recipes By Diane showcases gingerbread Cupid Cookies.
And The Savvy Age features quick and easy heart-accented gingerbread cookies.

Armed with all this inspiring information, I decided that yes, decorating our saved cookies with a Valentine’s Day theme would be just fine. I headed out to shop for heart-themed decorations and prepared the activity for my class.

Decorated gingerbread Valentine's Day cookies.

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The preschoolers relished decorating a Valentine’s Day gingerbread cookie. And your early learners would love it too.

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Supplies To Collect

gingerbread cookies (store-bought or homemade)
cookie or cake frosting (store-bought or homemade)
Valentine’s Day sprinkles
heart candies
cinnamon hearts
candy eyes
disposable plates
dull butter knives or tiny spatulas

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Decorating The Gingerbread Cookies

For each child participating in the activity, set an undecorated gingerbread cookie on a plate. Add a dollop of icing and candy decorations to another plate.

Heart and sprinkle decorations to decorate a Valentine's Day cookie.

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Set up a cookie decorating station for each child with candy decorations, a cookie, and a knife or tiny spatula.

Gingerbread cookie decorating station with Valentine's Day-themed decorations.

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Invite your early learners to decorate their cookies by spreading on icing and adding candy eyes and a nose, mouth, eyebrows, jewelry, buttons, etc.

Wrap the cookies up for the children to take home.

Gingerbread cookies decorated with hearts and candy sprinkles.

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Our undecorated cookies were store-bought. If you have time to bake the treats, try a tangy gingerbread cookie recipe. The recipe is adapted from George Washington’s mother Mary Ball Washington‘s version.

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A gingerbread cookie decorated with hearts and candy sprinkles.

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Jewelry Sensory Tray

February 15, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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If you have washable heart-themed children’s jewelry pieces lying around or found some in a post-Valentine’s Day sale, they can have a go in a jewelry sensory tray. Add a few complimentary colored loose parts, and your early learners will be eager to explore the tray.

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Loose Parts For The Tray

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heart bracelets
color block silicone bracelets
rainbow heart rings
wiggly eye rings
rainbow heart erasers
foam flowers and hearts
gem hearts
flower eraser
buttons

This tray has loose parts in a variety of cheery colors, taking it beyond Valentine’s Day.

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Making The Jewelry Sensory Tray

Heart-themed jewelry sensory tray that takes tactile exploration beyond Valentine's Day.

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Pick a tray large enough for a few children to play in.

Add a layer of rice. I feature glutinous rice. I love it because it is super white.

Spread the heart jewelry and complimentary colored loose parts in the tray. Invite your early learners to explore the tactile center.

This sensory tray idea also works for individual play. Just divide the supplies into a portion for each child and add them to smaller trays.

Heart jewelry sensory tray with cheery colors that take tactile exploration beyond Valentine's Day.

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