sensory bottles

This bugs sensory bottle is almost too beautiful to play with! The colours are very inviting. Kids are generally fascinated with insects. This is a great vehicle for that.

Bugs Sensory Bottle:

Supplies needed:

• Voss style empty water bottle
• clear dish soap*
• small plastic bugs
• spider ring
• yellow and green glitter
• various types of yellow, white, and blue beads
• green mini rubber bands
• super glue
• magnifying glass

*any dish soap will do, but I like the thickness of Dawn

Instructions:

1. Pour clear dish soap into the bottle until it’s about 2/3 of the way full.
2. Add in the plastic bugs and the spider ring.
3. Sprinkle the beads in.
4. Next, drop the small rubber bands in. This is a great way to make use of all those leftover rainbow loom elastics that are floating around your house!
5. Pour the glitter into the bottle.
6. Fill any remaining space with water.
7. Super glue the lid in place and allow to dry before handing it over to your child to play with.
8. Set out a magnifying glass so that kids can explore all the different insects in the bottle.

This sensory bottle contains small parts. Even though the lid is glued in place, kids are determined little creatures and they may be able to find a way to get it open. As with all sensory activities, adult supervision is required at all times.

Learning and sensory benefits:

Unit study – This discovery bottle can be used in a bug/insect unit study. Students can jot down their observations of the different bugs such as number of legs, antennae, and other visual characteristics.

Sensory – This activity provides visual and proprioceptive sensory input. The use of the magnifying glass adds more of a visual element. The complimentary colours are pleasant to look at and will encourage kids to explore what they can find. Math – Your child can count how many of a certain coloured bead there are or how many bugs are in the bottle. They can also guess if there are more green beads or blue beads etc.

Science – You can set out books about bugs to encourage children to do their own research and learning.

Bugs GaloreThe Bug BookSome BugsThe Very Hungry CaterpillarThe Big Bug Book: A Pop-up CelebrationThe Ants Go Marching: A Count-and-Sing Book

Communication – Vocabulary and communication skills are encouraged by kids asking questions and talking about their observations. They can talk about how quickly the glitter falls, what they feel and see, what types of bugs are included, what colours they observe, and any other things they notice.

Check out these other sensory bottles:

ABC I Spy Sensory Bottle

At the Beach Sensory Bottle

There are lots of ways to make a glow in the dark sensory bottle, but you know me; I like to keep things simple. Instead of making this glow through a complicated scientific process, this involves using glow in the dark items so that the hard part is done for you. 

I don’t know about your kids, but mine have always loved anything glow in the dark. They like to take it into the one bathroom we have that doesn’t have a window and turn the lights off so that it’s as dark as possible. 

Glow in the Dark Sensory Bottle:

Supplies to make the sensory bottle:

• Voss style plastic water bottle* (see note)
• clear dish soap
• glow beads
• bright sequins
• glitter
• glow ceiling stars
• super glue

*I like to look of Voss water bottles, but sometimes Michael’s carries empty bottles that look similar but are just slightly smaller. The Michael’s ones are a bit easier for little hands to grip. The problem is that they are not always easy to find. 

VOSS Plastic Water BottlesGlow in the Dark Pony BeadsGlow in the Dark Stars

Instructions:

1. Pour dish soap into the empty bottle until it is 2/3 of the way full.
2. Add glow beads, glitter, sequins, and stars.
3. Fill the remaining space in the bottle with water. Super glue the lid in place, especially if young children will be using the bottle.
4. When your child is not playing with this sensory bottle, keep it in the light so that the “glow” items can recharge.

Parental supervision should be used for this or any other sensory play activity. Even if the lid is secure with glue, it is possible that your child could get it open and there are small objects inside that could be choking hazards.

Learning and Sensory Benefits:

This activity provides children the chance to improve their communication and vocabulary as they describe what they observe.

Kids can experience the change when taking the sensory bottle from the light into the dark. Older kids may want to research what it is that causes the glow in the dark items to glow and why they need to recharge. This sensory play activity offers visual sensory input as well as a bit of tactile (holding the bottle) and proprioceptive (carrying and flipping over the bottle) input.

You can also incorporate math concepts by having your child count the number of stars they see or the number of a certain colour of bead.

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You might also enjoy these sensory bottles:

Spring Sensory Bottle 

Ocean Sensory Bottle (one of our all-time favourites!) Space Sensory Bottle 

This lightweight ABC I Spy sensory bottle provides all kinds of learning opportunities. The colours are engaging. This provides great sensory play for preschoolers.

ABC I Spy Sensory Bottle:

• plastic Voss water bottle
• tinsel*
• ABC beads
• water
• Super glue, optional

*You can often find tinsel at the Dollar Store or in the party decoration section of a department store. 

Directions:

1. Add tinsel to an empty plastic bottle with a wide mouth. There is no right or wrong amount of tinsel, but you do want to fill the bottle pretty well.
2. Add the alphabet beads into the bottle.
3. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Using a funnel makes this part easier. 
4. Secure the lid and play! Note: If you are intending to use this sensory bottle with small children, seal the lid with super glue before screwing the lid back on. You will need to give the super glue 15 minutes to dry before giving it to a child.

Learning Objectives:

Sensory – describe how the bottle feels (light, heavy, etc). Describe visual observations. Shake this bottle – what sounds does it make, how does the tinsel swirl, etc.

Math/Science Skills – Count the beads, observe and describe how the tinsel interacts with light, make one of these bottles without using water and make a hypothesis in how you think they will differ and then compare/contrast. Literacy – Identify the letters, name words with the same beginning sounds as you spot letters, rhyme words to the colour of the bead that starts with the letter on the bead.

Social Skills – take turns sharing the bottle. Practice phrases like “my turn”, “your turn”, “go”, and “stop”.

Fine Motor – Let kids push the tinsel into the bottle and pinch up the beads to add them into the bottle.

Language Skills – have kids use descriptive language to explain what the tinsel looks like and what they are experiencing. Practice pragmatic language for rules on how to use the sensory bottle and how to share the sensory bottle (informing, demanding, stating, and requesting).

Check out these preschool sensory bottles:

Colour Mixing Sensory Bottle Rainbow Rainfall Sensory Bottle Space Sensory Bottle 

This bedtime calming sensory bottle is perfect for helping children fall asleep. Your child can watch the stars in the bottle be revealed from within the glitter and count them until falling asleep.

Having a comfort item such as this calming bottle can help kids who have anxiety about bedtime. Incorporating this into the nighttime routine can be good for both children and parents.

Making a Bedtime Calming Sensory Bottle:

Supplies needed:

• plastic Voss water bottle
• 5-10 foam stars (glitter gold)
• ¼ cup holographic glitter (royal blue)
• ¼ cup glitter (royal blue)
• 1 cup hand sanitizer
• 1 cup water
• funnel
• Superglue

Directions:

1. If using a Voss water bottle, empty the bottle of water and allow the bottle to fully dry.
2. Add hand sanitizer and water to the sensory bottle using the funnel.
3. Add the foam stars (these may have to be folded in half depending on size).
4. Add both glitters to the bottle using the funnel.
5. Seal with lid with Superglue and allow the glue to dry fully (at least 15 minutes).*

*Note: I normally only Superglue the lids on sensory bottles for small children, but since this one is going into bed with your child, you should secure the lid with glue. It would be quite a mess to clean up glitter and hand sanitizer from bedding! 

Bedtime Use:

Hand your child the calming bottle when they’re having trouble going to sleep and ask them to count the stars. They will have to allow the stars to reveal themselves from the glitter in order to count them. This will keep the child focused until they fall asleep.

Some kids also just find it helpful to have something to hold onto.

Be sure that the lid is securely in place before allowing your child to sleep with this sensory bottle and for younger kids who may choke on small objects (such as the stars), only use during the day when you can supervise.

Learning Opportunities:

Sensory – Describe the sounds the calming sensory bottle makes, the feel of the bottle (is it light, heavy, etc.), what you can see when you shake the bottle, how quickly the stars fall. This bottle provides visual, tactile, and proprioceptive feedback. 

Math Skills – Count the stars, count the different size stars, and sort the stars by size.

Science Skills – Watch how the glitter moves around, falling down, swirling around and moving with the shaking. Watch how the stars reveal themselves as the glitter shifts, kind of like the stars in the night sky are revealed as the sun goes down. 

Try making the same bottle with just water or just hand sanitizer instead of hand sanitizer and water and compare and contrast how the glitter falls in each of the bottles.

Fine Motor – Getting the stars into the sensory bottle can be a challenge for those little hands. This is great fine motor skill practise for them. It is also an opportunity to problem solve and discuss what happens if you fold the stars, push them in with your fingers or just try to get them to “fall” into the bottle.

Language Skills – have kids use descriptive language to explain what the stars and glitter look like, what sizes the stars are, and what they are experiencing. They can also practise their conversation skills by asking for their sensory bottle at bedtime and talking about how it makes them feel.

Check out these other calming techniques for kids:

Calm Down Breathing for Kids Calming Lavender Playdough The Best Things to Include in a Calm Down Kit 

My oldest daughter loves Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night artwork. This starry night sensory bottle is inspired by that piece. This sensory bottle is extremely lightweight. This makes it perfect for keeping in the vehicle or in a backpack. Having easy access to a sensory bottle can help kids to stay calm when they need it. 

Starry Night Sensory Bottle:

Materials needed:

• plastic water bottle (I like the Voss ones because of the shape and the wide spout)
• 12-inch long, 3-inch wide yellow ribbon
• ½ cup Royal Blue holographic glitter
• ½ cup Royal Blue glitter
• 5-10 gold glitter foam stars, varying sizes
• funnel
• Super Glue, optional

VOSS Water BottlesRoyal Blue Holographic GlitterRoyal Blue Glitter

Directions:

1. If using a Voss water bottle, empty the bottle of water and allow the bottle to air dry.
2. Fold the ribbon and slide it into the sensory bottle.
3. Add stars (these may have to be folded in half depending on the size).
4. Add both glitters to the bottle using the funnel.
5. Replace the lid and play! (see note below)

Note: If you are intending to use this sensory bottle with small children, seal the lid with super glue before screwing the lid back on. You will need to give the super glue at least 15 minutes to dry before handing it over to a child.

Learning Objectives for the Starry Night Sensory Bottle:

Sensory – Describe the sound the bottle makes, describe the feel of the bottle (light, heavy, etc), describe what you see when you shake the bottle. This bottle provides good visual sensory input. 

Math Skills – Counting stars, counting the different size stars, sorting the stars by size.

Science Skills – Over time, watch how the glitter sticks to the side of the bottle, creating a new “painting” with every shake.Fine Motor – Getting the ribbons and stars into the sensory bottle can be a challenge for little hands. Not only will this challenge their fine motor muscles, it is also an excellent chance to problem solve and discuss what happens if you fold the ribbon, push it in with your fingers or just try to get it to “fall” into the bottle.

Language Skills – Have kids use descriptive language to explain what the ribbon, stars and glitter look like, what sizes the stars are, how long the ribbon is and what they are experiencing. Each child can practice pragmatic language for rules on how to use the sensory bottle and how to share the sensory bottle (informing, demanding, stating, and requesting).

Art Appreciation – Look together at images of the original Starry Night painting by Vincent Van Gogh. Discuss how the sensory bottle is similar and how it is different.

Check out these other sensory bottles:

Nature Sensory Bottle

Rainbow Rainfall Sensory Bottle

Ocean Sensory Bottle