These Calming Bottles and Sensory Bottles are so simple to make. You can make them yourself in a few minutes or have a toddler/preschooler help with the process. We made these when my kids were younger and they often helped to calm a stressful situation.
SENSORY BOTTLES
For a younger child, these glitter jars make a great sensory toy. Kids get enthralled watching the glitter swirl around. If your kids are a little older, the bottles can be used in conjunction with a time out or cooling off period. The child simply shakes the bottle up and watches all of the glitter fall to the bottom. This takes approximately 2 1/2 minutes to occur.
HOW TO MAKE CALMING JARS
- 16 oz water bottle with water or you can use these sensory bottles
- Glitter glue (we bought ours in a 3 pack at the dollar store – each bottle is 3oz)
- Glitter
- Jewels
- Glue gun
This first part should be done by an adult. You will want to be sure anytime you are using small objects that you supervise your child carefully and keep these away from kids who are likely to put things in their mouths.
Open up your water bottle and pour out a small amount, equal to a sip of water. If the bottle is full it will overflow when you start to add the glitter glue. You can see in the photo above that mine is not quite filled to the top.
Now it’s time for the kids to have some fun creating their glitter sensory bottles. Give your child an open bottle of water and some glitter glue. Have them start squeezing the glitter glue into the bottle.
You will want to use at least 3/4 of a 3oz bottle of glitter glue. This is a great fine motor activity for kids as they use their small hand muscles to squeeze all the glitter glue out.
When your child is done squeezing the glue into the bottle, they can choose a color of loose glitter to add to the bottle. Dad helped with this step as it can get messy. Next, have kids add the jewels.
What follows was my kids’ favorite part – shaking up the bottle. My daughter shook up, down, sideways and every which way.
When you first start shaking, the glitter glue with break into small clumps. But steady, vigorous shaking will break up the clumps and mix the colors of glitter.
The final step in the process is to hot glue the cap to the bottle so your child will not be able to open it up. This is an adults only step. Even with the cap glued on the bottle, you should still supervise your child when they are using it. Some kids out there seem to possess super human strength!
These calming bottles make great a mindfulness jar. As kids watch the glitter settle they are practicing being in the present moment. I hope your kids enjoy these as much as mine did back in the day!
If you are looking for more fun ways to engage your kids, I highly recommend KiwiCoKiwiCo. As a former teacher, I was really impressed with the quality of materials found in KiwiCo. Some moms have told me that they want to do activities like I do on Mess For Less with their kids, but they just don’t have to the time to go buy all the supplies and prepare them for the activity. KiwiCo is the perfect solution. Every month your KiwiCo will focus on a particular theme like Colors, Dinosaurs or Gardening. KiwiCo offer a variety of projects ranging from crafts, imaginative play, science experiments and more.
If you liked these calming bottles, check out:
Toni Barsi says
I made one of these when my daughter was 2, and it was great until the day it broke open. You're not kidding about the super human strength! I was sucking blue glitter out of the carpet for ages!
Vicky @ Mess For Less says
Toni, I can so see that happening to me. I have them stored away when the kids aren't using them, since we have enough glitter all over our house. LOL!
Bethany says
When do the jewels get put in? The article doesn't say. Do they go in with the glitter?
Vicky @ Mess For Less says
Yes, Bethany, it goes in with the loose glitter.Thanks for stopping by!
Shecki Grtlyblesd says
We made these this summer! Even my teens love them. 🙂 I have one in my room, and my 13 year old has a couple in hers, too.
Vicky @ Mess For Less says
Love hearing they work with teens too Shecki. I will have to remember that!
Linda Ortiz says
I will try this with my kids…just looking at the picture make me calm….really after a stressful homeschooling day….Thanks for the post.
Vicky @ Mess For Less says
Linda, thank you! I adore your blog and reading about your adventures with your family.
Linda Ortiz says
Thanks a lot I will try this with my kids!!!
Christi Parker says
I have now tried this twice and my glue just turns into a lava lamp looking thing. When I leave it overnight, it clumps at the bottom and then won't break apart. Does this happen with you too? I'm wondering if it is just the Elmer's Glitter Glue I'm using or the Smart Water. Thanks!
Vicky @ Mess For Less says
Christi, I have to think it's the Elmer's glitter glue. I have only done this with the glitter glue from the dollar store and it is probably a different ratio of glitter to glue. I used plain tap water and the dollar store glitter glue if it helps.
rebecca speer says
I have read that you should use just clear glue. but if you want to use glitter glue you must use boiling water with it. hope this helps 🙂
Cathy Vey says
What works best for retarding stuff growing on the inside of the bottles. I have done sensory bottles before and after awhile end up with weird clumpy looking algae or something inside.
Cathy Vey says
What is the best thing to use to retard growths inside the bottle. I have done these before and eventually had strange things growing inside the bottles….
Kristi Burton says
How exactly do you glue the lid onto the bottle? I tried a couple of times, putting the glue into the lid and putting it on top but the lid does not go on straight and is not secure. Is it better to put the glue on the neck of the bottle, where the threads are? Or on the very top of the neck and then put the lid on? Thanks!
Vicky @ Mess For Less says
Kristi, I had success with putting some glue in the lid and some on the threads.
Steph says
I’ve also used clear packing tape on the top of the lids. I’ve used this with my 3-5yr olds with Autism, and they loved it!
Dawn Garcia says
I tried the calming bottle and it leaks. I used a glue gun, then white glue, and tape. It still leaks badly.
Vicky says
That is a bummer Dawn. We had our for months and months and they never leaked once. Sorry it didn’t work out for you.
Jessica says
I wish I could take credit for this great idea as well! So simple, but so great. Thank you for sharing, I think i’ll make one for myself.