5 Valentine’s Day-themed activities to help increase language skills for neurodivergent children

Holidays can be a great opportunity to try themed or new activities with your neurodivergent child. Here are some evidence-based activities and resources that can help to build different skills including language, turn-taking, sequencing, imitation, and social engagement. These can be repeated and adapted for other holidays or even birthdays to develop and encourage these skills.

1. Valentine’s Day Snack Talk

• Activity: Make a simple Valentine’s snack together (e.g., heart-shaped cookies or fruit). Narrate each step as you are doing it using simple language and repetitive phrases:  
  • “Mix, mix, mix!” 
  • “Cut the heart. Push, push!” 
  • “Eat the cookie. Yum!” 
• Why?: Encourages following directions, requesting, and vocabulary building. 
• Resource: Project ImPaCT – Great for building language during daily activities 

2. Heart Matching Game (Play-Based Learning)

• Activity: Cut out various sizes of red, pink, and purple hearts. Match them by colour or size or order them by size or shade of colour while using language:  
  • “Big heart, small heart!” 
  • “Find the pink one.” 
  • “Put the heart on top!” 
  • “Let’s put them in order from small to big.” 
  • “Let’s put them in order from light pink to dark pink.” 
• Why?: Supports labeling, turn-taking, sequencing, and following instructions. 
• Resource: Teaching Language to Children with Autism or Other Development Disabilities – Play-based language strategies 

3. Valentine’s Songs with Actions

• Activity: Sing simple Valentine’s-themed songs with gestures (e.g., “Skidamarink”) and encourage filling in words:  
  • “I love ___ (pause and wait for your child to say ‘you’).” 
  • “Blow a kiss! Mwah!” 
  • “Hug, hug, hug!” 
• Why?: Builds communication, imitation, and social engagement. 
• Resource: Super Simple Songs (Great for visual, engaging songs!) 

4. Valentine’s Requesting with Visual Supports

• Activity: Use pictures or real objects to help your child request Valentine’s Day items. Your child can request through an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system such as the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) or through a speech generating device as well:
  • “I want a heart sticker.” 
  • “Two chocolates!” 
  • “Red or pink?” (Offer choices) 
• Why?: Helps build communication skills, especially for minimally verbal children. 
• Resource: Picture Exchange Communication System – Create custom Valentine’s Day visual supports 

5. Interactive Valentine’s Day Book

• Activity: Read a simple Valentine’s Day book like Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse! (Laura Numeroff) or Llama Llama I Love You (Anna Dewdney). Encourage pointing, labeling, and finishing phrases:  
  • “I love __ (pause for ‘you’).” 
  • “Find the heart!” 
• Why?: Builds vocabulary, comprehension, and engagement. 
• Resource: Monarch Reader – Free, simple interactive books or through your local Public Library 

Making a holiday special can be rewarding for you and your child. These Valentine’s Day activities can help your child build their skills in a calm and supportive way.