Three ASL Signs and Activities For Valentine’s Day
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February is my favorite month of the year! Not only is it my birthday month, but it also Valentine's Day!! I haven’t been one to fully celebrate Valentine’s Day as an adult, but I’m all about it for the kids! I have fond memories of incorporating these units into my lesson plans as a teacher for each grade level I taught.
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Use sign language while you play!
Do you use sign language while playing with your young child?
Pairing signs while playing with your baby or toddler is beneficial for many reasons:
⭐️meaningful connections are made within your child's brain
⭐️there are multiple opportunities for repetition of signs, words, and phrases
⭐️language learning is extended
⭐️two-way communication organically occurs
⭐️joint attention between child and caregiver
⭐️creates bonding and positive interactions
Need some Valentine ideas? Keep reading…
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Sign language you can use for Valentine’s Day
HEART: this is also the sign for VALENTINE. the ideas that are listed below have plenty of opportunities to use this sign!
LOVE: use this sign during bedtime routine as well when you tuck them in bed.
FRIEND: use this sign year round during playdates, birthday parties, and fun outings.
Valentine book recommendations
These are some of my favorite books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Read them all month to really feel the love! Incorporate the signs you know as you read together. For more Valentine book recommendations, please visit my Amazon storefront.
Where is Baby’s Valentine? is a lift-the-flap board book that babies and toddlers will love! There are also lots of opportunity for interaction on each page (saying and shaking your head “no” or nodding “yes”).
Love Monster is a sweet story about this monster searching for someone to love him just the way he is. This book will be a favorite for your toddler and preschooler, with opportunity for discussions about uniqueness, love, and acceptance.
Froggy’s First Kiss is the Valentine themed story of Froggy, a well-loved character by many preschoolers. You’ll be laughing alongside your child while reading about Froggy trying to create a one-of-a-kind Valentine for Frogilina.
Valentine play + activity ideas for babies and toddlers
Looking for something Valentine themed this month? I got you!
If you haven't tried an oil and water bag with your older baby, I highly recommend it! Dye some water red or pink (you know, keep it festive and in theme) and add some oil to it in a ziplock bag. Jazz it up with some glitter or sequins if you want, too. Secure the seal and tape it to the floor, highchair, or window. Your baby will love to see the colors moving around and oil bubbles bouncing off the water!
We love to make homemade Valentine cards to send to family. And marble painting is always fun for the kids! Using one of the many Amazon boxes that shows up on your doorstep, tape down a piece of cardstock to the bottom and squirt paint in the corners of the box (red, pink, white, maybe purple). Drop a few marbles in the box and shake the box gently back and forth! This activity definitely requires supervision because of the marbles, so I recommend closing the box (and taping it shut) if you need to be extra safe. You could also put the paper inside a clear plastic box with a lid so your little one can see the marbles roll! Once dried, write a sweet message on the other side and send to the grandparents!
And who doesn’t love an easy sensory bin? Dye some rice pink, red, purple, and even turquoise in the morning and it will be dry in time for witching hour. Throw in some pom poms, fun Valentine items you find at the Dollar Tree or Target Bullseye section, pipe cleaners, and some tools.
