Is it weird to call a sensory bottle “beautiful”?! Because I really think this one is. The soft colours combined with the calming falling snow make this Nativity Sensory Bottle Snow Globe so pretty.
Sometimes parents can assume that the holidays are a time when kids don’t need as much sensory input because there are so many other things going on, but the opposite is actually true. With the change in routine and all the hubbub, children actually need more regular and varied sensory play to help them manage emotions and mitigate stress. We also use our Christmas Calm Down Kit for this purpose. 
I love this Nativity Sensory Bottle as a holiday activity. It highlights the reason for the season. It also creates kind of a snow globe effect because of the snowflakes and glitter. And watching that fall helps kids (or adults) to regulate their breathing and feel more calm.
Nativity Sensory Bottle Snow Globe:
Supplies needed:
- plastic empty water bottle (I prefer the Voss brand because I like the look or sometimes Michael’s carries plastic bottles for just this)
- clear dish soap
- white or opalescent glitter
- small snowflake buttons
- nativity buttons
- We Three Kings buttons
- The Good Shepherd buttons
- super glue (optional)
Directions:
- Fill a plastic bottle about halfway with clear dish soap.
- Drop in some glitter.
- Add some of the snowflake buttons.
- Drop in all the people (buttons) that belong in the nativity scene.
- Fill the remaining space with water and screw on the lid.
- I suggest that you super glue the lid in place to prevent kids from opening the bottle.
Even if the lid is glued in place, determined kids can get it off and this contains small parts, so adult supervision is required when kids are playing with this.
Sensory Opportunities:
This sensory activity engages both the tactile, visual, and proprioceptive sensory systems. Sensory play is important for development, regulating emotions and behaviour, language development, and so much more.
You can also play a game where as you tell or read the Christmas story, your child can find each character in the story as they are talked about. This is a great way to increase their interest and attention to the story. It allows them to participate and engage.
You may also be interested in these Christmas activities:
Slime directions:
To decorate the Santa jar:
This would be a good sensory bottle for football season, Thanksgiving, the Super Bowl, or just for a sports fan. One of the things I like about it is that it can be hard to come up with sensory play ideas that boys are interested in. That’s not to say that some girls won’t also like this! But football is certainly an interest that many boys share.
Directions:
This cute little bottle engages both the visual and tactile sensory systems. Because the glitter and sequins stay suspended in the dish soap and fall slowly as it is turned, this can also serve as a calm down bottle. Children can watch the glitter slowly fall as they focus on regulating their breathing. It’s surprisingly effective. 
Practising gratitude sets the stage for a happier life. 
This game can be played with 2-4 players at a time.
Assembly instructions:
Game Directions:
It may be hard for some children (depending on their age and developmental abilities) to think of things in each category to be grateful for. You can help by proving prompts or examples of your own.
A sensory bottle can help kids self-regulate. The calm down type are particularly effective and this is one of those. Kids can watch the glitter and confetti slowly drop and as they focus on that, their breathing begins to regulate. It’s like magic!
Directions:
The games can be played a couple of different ways. You can create teams and have a member from each team go head to head against each other or you can play as individuals in a “beat the clock” type of fashion.
The object of this game is to retrieve all the pumpkins out of your pie. To set up, place candy pumpkins on the bottom of each pie plate. Cover with whipping cream. Each player sits with their hands behind their backs and has to find the pumpkins and move them out of the pie using only their mouth.
In this game, players need to attempt to keep their feather in the air for a full minute by blowing it up. It’s harder than it sounds. If a player’s feather touches the ground or a surface, they are out of the game.
To set this game up, pour some pumpkin seeds onto a paper plate for each player. Set that down next to an empty plate. To play, each person puts a straw in their mouth and attempts to transfer all the pumpkin seeds to the empty plate in less than one minute. If you’re playing head to head, then then the person who transfers all of their pumpkin seeds the fastest is the winner.
Place one candy pumpkin (or candy corn) on a spoon. Have players race holding onto their spoon with one hand (you can allow younger kids to use both hands). If their candy drops off, they are eliminated or have to start back at the beginning.
Give each person a turkey baster and balloon. The goal of this Minute to Win It challenge is to get the balloon across the table lengthwise using only the air from the turkey baster. You are not allowed to touch the balloon with the turkey baster. This can be played to beat the one minute timer or played head to head with the winner earning one point for their team.
