Valentine’s Day Made Easier (Autism-Friendly + Printable)

Valentine’s Day can be sweet… but it can also be loud, messy, and full of tricky social stuff (cards, parties, hugs, rules you’re “meant” to know). If you’re supporting an autistic child (or teen), that’s a lot to juggle.

This page is your easy, low-stress Valentine toolkit. With printables, communication supports, and simple routines that help.

Here’s what you’ll find:

• Consent + boundaries tips (no forced hugs)
• Valentine maths (hearts, counting, simple addition)
• Folder-game style activities (laminate, Velcro, reuse)
• Communication supports (AAC boards, choice-making, participation prompts)
• A social story for what to expect at a Valentine’s event
• Craft + art ideas that work well for different sensory needs

1) Valentine maths (simple addition + counting)

Add Hearts / Valentine Addition

• Add Hearts – a simple addition worksheet.
• Hearts, colours and count hearts.
• Hearts – Colour and count hearts
• Printable Valentine addition and subtraction worksheets (great for quick wins).

Valentine themed maths pages

• A full Valentine maths section by year level (K–5).

Hearts: count and colour

• “Count and Colour” Valentine worksheet PDF (easy centre activity). 
• More Valentine numbers + counting practice (multiple worksheets).

Pro tip: print on cardstock, laminate, and use whiteboard markers. It turns one worksheet into a year-after-year resource.

2) Folder games (hands-on, low talk, high focus)

• Folder Game – a two-page printout to practice simple addition with a Valentine’s theme.
• Free Valentine file folder games (print + Velcro). 
• Extra file-folder style options if you want more variety. 

Make it autism-friendly:

Keep the rules to one sentence, and show an example first. Then do “your turn”.

3) Communication boards (for crafts, choices, and participation)

If you do one thing for Valentine’s Day, do this: give a way to communicate without pressure.

Valentine craft communication board

• Valentine Craft Communication Board – Print, laminate, put in a sheet protector and use during a simple Valentine craft activity to promote increased student participation.
• Valentine communication colouring activity + AAC mat (great for choosing colours, tools, steps). 

Free printable AAC Valentines + matching board

• Free printable AAC Valentine cards plus a matching Valentine speech board idea. 
• A big round-up of AAC-friendly Valentine resources (loads of ideas in one place). 

Optional add-on: communication cards for needs/feelings (useful year-round, not just Valentine’s Day).

4) “Valentine comprehension” (simple reading + responding)

• Valentine Comprehension – A simple reading and writing comprehension exercise.
• Thumbprint Valentine
• Valentine’s Day reading comprehension (with questions + answer key). 

Make it easier: let the student answer by circling, pointing, or using AAC.

5) “Why? …Because” (without the stress)

Instead of forcing tricky “why” questions, use a friendly sentence starter:

• Why? ..Because – an easy worksheet to aid question and answer activities.
• “I love you because…” printable worksheet (customisable). 

You can also turn it into a peer compliment activity:

• “I like you because you are ___ / you help with ___ / you make me feel ___.”

6) Songs (keep it light, keep it short)

Be My Valentine (song + “special friend” line)

• Be My Valentine – Here’s a cute little song. Don’t forget to deliver a big kiss sound effect
• Lyrics to “Be My Valentine” (tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb). 
• Valentine Song – “You’re a Special Friend of Mine.”.

Want more quick songs/fingerplays?

• A list of Valentine songs for group time. 

Tip: Some kids hate “kiss” jokes/sounds. Swap it for a wink, drum beat, or thumbs up.

7) Crafts that work well for autistic learners

“I Give You My Heart” art project

• Paper heart collage lesson (looks great on a wall, easy to adapt). 

Easy sensory tweaks:

• Hate glue? Use double-sided tape.
• Hate messy textures? Use pre-cut paper shapes.
• Need calm? Do it in two short sessions.

8) The bit most Valentine pages forget: consent + boundaries

Valentine’s Day often comes with social pressure: hugs, kisses, “say thank you”, “give them a cuddle”. That can be a hard no for a lot of autistic people.

• Raising Children Network (autism): teaching bodies + personal boundaries, including polite ways to say no to unwanted touch.
• A simple “choose your greeting” chart idea (hug / high five / wave / fist bump).
• How do you feel in February? 

You can add this to your classroom routine:

“Pick your greeting” → point to the option → done. No explaining needed.

Action

Your 20-minute Valentine plan (print this and you’re set)

1. Print one maths page (count & colour or addition). 
2. Print one AAC support (Valentine AAC mat or AAC Valentine cards). 
3. Print one reading/comprehension page (optional).
4. Pick one craft (heart collage) and prep it with tape/glue choices. 
5. Add one boundary option (wave/high five) and make it normal.