Valentine’s Day Sensory Bin

Create a playful and colorful Valentine’s Day sensory bin that’s perfect for little hands. This easy-to-make activity is a big hit for preschoolers and adds a festive touch to the best holiday of the year.

Table of Contents:

1. It’s all heart eyes for this Valentine’s Day sensory bin
2. Materials
3. How to make a Valentine’s Day sensory bin
4. Cupid-approved ideas for sensory play
5. Tips for Valentine’s Day sensory bin success
6. What to do with the sensory bin when done
7. Frequently Asked Questions

View more

It’s all heart eyes for this Valentine’s Day sensory bin

This activity is as versatile as it is adorable.

It’s an excellent way to keep little hands busy at home or as an activity for a preschool Valentine’s Day party. The rice feels soft and calming to touch, and adding props keeps the fun going for hours (well, actually, for days!)

Plus, it’s a sneaky way to practice motor skills, sorting, and imaginative play.

And if you’ve ever wondered how to dye rice easily, you’ll be delighted to learn how (unbelievably) easy it is.

Materials

Friends Art Lab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.

• White rice
• Liquid watercolors or food coloring (we used red and purple liquid watercolors)
• Plastic zipper bags
• Lined baking sheet
• Shallow bin or container
• Open-ended props like heart-shaped cookie cutters, scoops, small cups, and toy figurines

How to make a Valentine’s Day sensory bin

1. Add 2-3 cups of white rice into a plastic zipper bag.
2. Squirt a generous amount of liquid watercolors or food coloring into the bag. Start with less than you think and gradually add more as needed.
3. Seal the bag tightly and shake it until the rice is completely covered.
4. Spread the dyed rice on a lined baking sheet to dry.
5. Once dry, pour the rice into a shallow bin or container.
6. Add your open-ended props, such as scoops and cookie cutters.
7. Invite the kids to play, scoop, and explore the Valentine magic.

Cupid-approved ideas for sensory play

Make your Valentine’s Day sensory bin even more interactive with these fun twists:

• Hide small toys or treasures in the rice and create a Valentine-themed scavenger hunt.
• Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to create mini “rice cakes.”
• Pair the sensory bin with love-themed storytime for a fully immersive experience.
• Challenge kids to sort and group props by color or shape for a math lesson.
• You can add scents (ex: strawberry extract) for even more sensory fun.

Tips for Valentine’s Day sensory bin success

The best piece of advice for rice sensory bins (well, most sensory bins, really!) is adding a tablecloth and staggering adding in props.

Tablecloth/Blanket: While we always encourage kids to keep the bin’s contents inside of the bin, some will inevitably come out and onto the floor. BUT, if you have a tablecloth under the play space, then cleanup is a breeze. At the end of the play session, simply shake the tablecloth over the bin.

Less is More: While I am famous for sharing that I often believe that more is more, when first introducing sensory bins, the opposite is true. Add only a few props to begin, and once you feel comfortable, add more.

What to do with the sensory bin when done

Save the dyed rice for future sensory bins by storing it in an airtight container.

We store ours in a mix of plastic bags and airtight containers and both work wonderfully.

When done, make sure to check out some of these other Valentine’s Day hits:

• Valentine’s Day Headbands with Sentence Strips & Stickers
• DIY Valentine’s Day Crayons
• Candy Heart Smash and Smoosh
• Valentine Bingo

Frequently Asked Questions