sensory bottles

Awww, this activity is so fun and so cute! Kids can explore their interest in outer space with this Astronaut Sensory Bottle. It engages the senses and the mind.

Astronaut Sensory Bottle:

Supplies needed:

• empty water bottle (I prefer the look of Voss bottles or craft store sensory bottles)
• clear dish soap (Dawn or LemiShine are a good thickness for this)
• astronaut and rocket erasers
• glow in the dark mini ceiling stars
• small teal and green rubber bands (like the Rainbow Loom ones)
• silver glitter
• optional: Superglue or hot glue to seal the top of the bottle

Directions:

1. Pour clear dish soap into the bottle to 2/3 of the way full.
2. Add the glitter, mini rubber bands, space erasers, and ceiling stars.
3. Fill up to the top with water.
4. Put the lid back on. If you’re going to use with younger kids, then it’s best to superglue the lid in place or secure with hot glue. Be sure to allow the glue time to dry before giving it to a child to play with.

As with all of our sensory activities, adult supervision should be used. Even if you have glued the lid in place, it can still come off. The bottle contains small parts which are choking hazards so always use caution.

This activity has an added bonus. Because of the ceiling stars, it is glow-in-the-dark. Just be sure to leave it in the light long enough to charge and then the sensory bottle will glow. Some kids may be comforted by bringing their glowing bottle into their room with them at night.

Sensory and Learning Opportunities:

This Astronaut Sensory Bottle engages the visual, tactile, and the proprioceptive sensory systems.

If you’re doing a unit study on the Solar System, you can set out this Astronaut Sensory Bottle as a hands-on addition to your studies. When kids incorporate their senses into their learning, they show better retention. You can set up an entire Space Sensory Station at home or in your classroom to encourage learning.

Here are some other activities that would work well at your Space Sensory Station:

Glow in the Dark Solar System Sensory Bin

Space Sensory Bottle

Are you looking for more simple sensory play recipes? Join us for a five day email series on Sensory Activities and Solutions and get yourself a free sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

This Mermaid Calm Down Bottle is so pretty. Children are mesmerized as they watch items slowly drift down towards the bottom which helps them to regulate their breathing and regain focus when upset.

Mermaid Calm Down Bottle:

Supplies needed:

• empty water bottle (I prefer the look of Voss bottles or sensory bottles from the craft store)
• clear dish soap (Dawn or LemiShine are good because they are thicker)
• small mermaid figures (I used stretchy ones from the Dollar Store)
• white and pink glitter
• teal sequins
• pink, purple, teal, and white pony beads
• optional: Superglue to seal the bottle top

Directions:

1. Pour clear dish soap into the container until it’s 2/3 full.
2. Add the glitter, beads, sequins, and mermaid toys.
3. Fill the leftover space with water.
4. Replace the lid. If younger kids will be playing with the bottle, then I recommend that you use Superglue or hot glue to secure the lid in place.  Allow the glue to dry before giving it to your child to play with.

As with all sensory activities for kids, adult supervision is required at all times. Even if you have glued the lid in place, it can come off and the bottle contains small parts which are choking hazards.

Sensory and Learning Opportunities:

This Mermaid Calm Down Bottle allows children to explore through the visual, tactile, and proprioceptive sensory systems.

While this bottle can be used as a tool for improving communication and discussing colours, it’s main purpose is to serve as sensory input and as a calming tool. The thick dish soap allows the glitter, sequins, beads, and mermaid toys to fall more slowly through the bottle than they would in water. It really is quite calming to watch  (even for adults!).

As your child watches the items travel through the bottle, encourage them to slow down their breathing. This often happens naturally. Give them simple verbal reminders such as “in through your nose, out through your mouth” or sit nearby and slow down your own breathing to model it for them.

I use this tool when I see one of my kids struggling to regulate their emotions or behaviour. I will often just wordlessly shake up the bottle and set it in front of my child. They begin watching it automatically and I can see their breathing begin to slow almost immediately. It’s a bit like magic actually!Looking for more sensory play ideas? Join us for a five day email series on Sensory Activities and Solutions and get a free sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Find ideas for other calm down bottles:

Lego Sensory Bottle

Glow in the Dark Sensory Bottle

Spring Sensory Bottle

It’s amazing how simple it is to make a Valentine’s Calm Down Bottle. Using common items, you can create a Valentine themed sensory bottle that provides calming feedback.

Valentine’s Calm Down Bottle:

Supplies needed:

• empty plastic water bottle (I prefer the look of either the craft store sensory bottles or the Voss water bottles)
• Elmer’s Clear School Glue
• warm water
• heart confetti
• mini heart pink glitter
• red glitter
• optional: hot glue or Superglue

Directions:

1. Fill the water bottle about half full with glue.
2. Add warm water until the bottle is more than three quarters full and seal with the lid. Shake well to combine the glue with the water.
3. Add the glitter and confetti to the bottle.
4. Seal the jar again and shake well. If the confetti and glitter don’t move as easily as you want them to, you can add more warm water. If the glitter or confetti move too quickly, then add additional glue. When the contents of the sensory bottle move the way you want them to, seal the bottle.
5. If you’re going to be handing the bottle to young children, you’ll want to use hot glue or Superglue to secure the lid. Allow the glue to fully dry before they begin play.

Even if you have secured the lid with glue, adult supervision should be used with this or any other sensory activities.

As the glitter and heart confetti move slowly through the liquid, it can be quite mesmerizing to watch. Kids (or adults) who watch the falling colour usually experience a slowing of their heart rate and the effect of helping regulate their emotions.

Combine that with the sensory benefits of tactile, visual, and proprioceptive input and this really does become a calm down bottle.

Are you looking for more easy sensory play ideas? Join me for a five day email series on Sensory Activities and Solutions and get a free sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Check out some of our other Valentines sensory activities:

Heart Shaped Valentine’s Sensory Bin

Valentine’s Sensory Bottle

If you’re a parent, chances are, you’ve got access to Lego. Maybe you’ve even experienced the universal pain of stepping on a piece! If you’ve already got the supplies, this Lego Sensory Bottle is easy and inexpensive to make.

It can be a great calm down tool for kids as they sit and watch, mesmerized by the movement of the slow falling glitter, green bits, and Lego.

This sensory bottle also makes a cute decoration for a playroom or bedroom. And if you’re hosting a Lego themed birthday party, making these as a group is a fun activity. You can then allow guests to take their creations home as a party favour.

Lego Sensory Bottle:

Supplies needed:

• empty water bottle (I prefer the look of Voss bottles or craft store sensory bottles)
• clear dish soap (Dawn or LemiShine are good because they are thicker)
• Lego figurines (also called mini figs)
• white and blue Lego blocks
• small green rubber bands (like the kind you may have leftover from the Rainbow Loom craze!)
• silver glitter
• optional: Super glue to seal the bottle cap

Directions:

1. Pour clear dish soap into the container until it’s 2/3 full.
2. Add the glitter, mini rubber bands, figurines, and Lego pieces.
3. Fill the remaining space with water.
4. Replace the lid. If you’re going to be using with younger kids, then I recommend that you super glue the lid in place and allow the glue to dry before giving it to your child to play with.

As with all sensory activities, adult supervision should be used at all times. Even if you have glued the lid in place, it can come off and the bottle contains small parts which are choking hazards.

Sensory and Learning Opportunities:

This Lego Sensory Bottle incorporates the visual, tactile, and proprioceptive sensory systems.

Using this visual, kids can work on concepts like colours and counting. They can also work on the math concept of guestimating by guessing how many small elastics there may be in the whole bottle by counting the amount in one section and multiplying that by the number of sections of that size that there are.

As the liquid allows items to move through more slowly than they would through water, kids can focus on the slow falling items to help them regulate their breathing. It creates a calming experience.Are you looking for other easy sensory play ideas? Join us for a five day email series on Sensory Activities and Solutions and get a free sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Check out some of our other fun sensory bottles for kids:

Football Mini Sensory Bottle

Shark Sensory Bottle

ABC I-Spy Sensory Bottle

These New Year’s Eve Noisemakers are great for involving kids in the New Year’s celebration. They also provide sensory input and are a good way to use empty water bottles. This New Year’s Eve, let the whole family get in on the festivities with activities such as this easy to make New Year’s Eve Sensory Bottle and these fun Minute to Win It games for all ages.

New Year’s Eve Noisemakers:

Supplies needed:

• water bottles, empty and dry
• glitter paint in gold and silver
• gold and silver glitter
• festive duct tape or washi tape
• jingle bells (about 2 for each noisemaker)
• pony beads (for additional noise if desired)
• foam star stickers
• curling ribbon (we used black, silver, and gold)
• scissors

Directions:

1. Take the lids off from the water bottles and make sure bottles are completely dry on the inside.
2. Squirt about 2 Tablespoons of paint into each bottle (the exact amount depends on the size of the bottle) and replace the lid. Shake the bottle while turning to coat the inside of the bottle with paint.
3. Remove the lids and liberally pour glitter into the bottles. Seal tightly and shake the bottles until all of the glitter has stuck to the paint.
4. Take the lids off again and place the bottles on their side until completely dry inside.
5. Once the paint is dry, add a few bells bells and some beads to each bottle to make as much noise as desired.
6. Close each bottle.
7. To avoid having the lid removed and the excess glitter, beads, and bells being poured out, use decorative tape to cover the lid completely.
8. Decorate the bottle with foam star stickers.
9. Cut curling ribbon so that it’s about 8 inches long. Tie the curling ribbon around the neck of the bottle, making a knot to keep it attached. Use scissors to curl the ends of the ribbon.

Sensory Opportunities:

Essentially, these are just fancy sensory sound bottles. Homemade New Year’s Eve Noisemakers engage the visual, auditory, tactile, and proprioceptive sensory systems.

Meeting your child’s sensory needs can help them better regulate their emotions and behaviour. And as a parent or educator, I’m sure you know that sometimes that comes in extra handy around the holidays!

Check out these other New Year’s activities for kids:

New Year’s Eve Sensory Bottle

Minute to Win It Games

Help kids ring in the New Year with an easy to make sensory activity. Since that evening tends to hold a lot of excitement, this New Year’s Eve Sensory Bottle can also double as a calm down bottle. This can potentially come in very handy for both parents and child!

A few years ago, we made a New Year’s Sensory Bottle, but I decided that it may be time for a bit of an update, so I created this New Year’s Eve Sensory Bottle with more of a countdown theme. If you’re looking for another great kids’ sensory activity for this night, check out our New Year’s Eve Noisemakers.

New Year’s Eve Sensory Bottle:

Supplies needed:

• 1 plastic sensory bottle or empty water bottle (I use either a sensory bottle from Michael’s or a Voss water bottle)
• 6 oz. bottle Elmer’s Clear School Glue
• warm water
• silver glitter
• gold glitter
• silver star confetti
• clock buttons (I love the antique look of these ones)
• optional: hot glue and glue gun

Directions:

1. Empty one bottle of glue into bottle.
2. Fill the empty glue bottle about half full with warm water and seal with the lid. Shake well to combine the rest of the glue with the water. Pour into the jar with the glue, replace that lid, and shake to combine.
3. Add the glitter, star confetti and clock buttons.
4. Seal the jar and shake well.
5. When the contents of the bottle move like you want them to, seal the bottle.
6. If using with younger kids, hot glue the lid in place.*

*As with all sensory activities, adult supervision is advised at all times.

Troubleshooting tips:

If the glitter or confetti does not move as easily as you would like, add more warm water. If the glitter or confetti moves too quickly, add additional glue.

Due to the clock buttons being metal and coming in contact with the liquid, you’ll only want to play with this sensory bottle for a few weeks because the clock buttons will rust.

Fun idea:

If you’re planning a New Year’s party, you can even set some of these bottles out on the tables as decoration. You’ll notice that even the adults will be mesmerized by the slowly falling glitter (the calm down effect). You can even sprinkle the leftover star confetti on the tables as additional decor.

Check out these other sensory bottles for kids:

New Year’s Eve DIY Noisemakers

New Year’s Sensory Bottle

Glow in the Dark Sensory Bottle

Bug Sensory Bottle