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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.
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After a little while, you could add red food coloring to the water to extend interest.
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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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Related: St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Tub
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Fall Scissor Skills Activities
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Don’t forget to share this post on Pinterest or your favorite social media channel. Sharing is caring!
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© Annette Kaminsky February 7, 2022
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