Sensory bottles are easy to make and serve a variety of purposes: exploration, discovery, sensory input, and calming. This mega list of sensory bottles can serve as a how-to or just spark your imagination to come up with your own ideas.
To make a sensory bottle, fill an empty water bottle with the materials you’ve chosen and replace the lid. You will most likely want to secure the lid using a hot glue gun. This is especially important if younger children will be using it. Below, find a video detailing how to make a calm down bottle.
Sensory Bottles For Anytime:
Smelling Sensory Bottles from Things to Share and Remember
Pretty Princess Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter
Button Sensory Bottle from Keep Calm and Mommy On
Water-Bead Sensory Bottles for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers from Living Montessori Now
Lilac Sensory Bottle from Parenting Chaos
Light Saber Sensory Bottles Star Wars Activity for Kids from Little Bins for Little Hands
Superheroes Sensory Bottle from here on The Chaos and The Clutter
Batman Sensory Bottle from Growing Hands-On Kids
Sensory Bottles that Glow in the Dark from Fun-a-Day
American Girls Sensory Bottle from here on The Chaos and The Clutter
Minion Sensory Bottle from Little Bins for Little Hands
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Sensory Bottle Activity by Little Bins for Little Hands
Rice Sensory Bottle from Mama Instincts
Water Bead Sensory Bottles from Parenting Chaos
Despicable Me Minions Sensory Bottle from here at The Chaos and The Clutter
Learning Sensory Bottles:
Van Gogh Starry Night Discovery Bottle
Money Sensory Bottle for Math Unit from here on The Chaos and The Clutter
Alphabet Calm Down Bottle from Preschool Inspirations
Sensory Bottles Used to Explore Shapes with Printables from JDaniel 4’s Mom
Alphabet Sensory Bottle from Parenting Chaos
STEAM Camp: How to Make a Magnetic Field Sensory Bottle from Left Brain Craft Brain
Science Discovery Bottles for Sensory Learning from Little Bins for Little Hands
Nature Inspired Sensory Bottles from Rhythms of Play
Farm, Zoo, & Ocean Animal Sensory Bottles from Living Montessori Now
Zoology Sensory Bottles by The Kavanaugh Report
Rust Resistant Magnetic Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations
Sensory Bottle Biomes for Kids by Parenting Chaos
Exploring Liquid Density with Sensory Bottles from Buggy and Buddy
Magnetic Discovery Bottles from Preschool Inspirations
Arctic Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter
Calm Down Sensory Bottles:
Slow Motion Calm Down Sensory Bottle by Childhood 101
Butterfly Sensory Calm Down Jar from Rhythms of Play
Slow-Falling Beads Sensory Bottle by Teaching Mama
Glitter Bottle Calm Down Tool Sensory Play from Little Bins for Little Hands
Magic Two Ingredient Sensory Bottle from Preschool Inspirations
Easy Glow in the Dark Beads Sensory Bottle from Mom-Inspired Life
Silver and Gold Glitter Sensory Bottles from Fun-a-Day
Seasons & Weather Sensory Bottles:
Season Sensory Bottles from Mama.Papa.Bubba.
Spring Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter
Spring Flower Sensory Bottle from Kids Craft Room
DIY Butterfly Sensory Bottle by Rhythms of Play
Simple Fall Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter
October Fall Sensory Bottle by Teaching Mama
Windy Fall Leaves Sensory Bottle from Rhythms of Play
Weather Sensory Bottles for Circle Time by TwoDaloo
Sky Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter
Sun and Rain Sensory Bottles from Creative Family Fun
Melted Snowman Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter
Penguin Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama
DIY Frozen-Inspired Snowstorm Sensory Bottle by Rhythms of Play
Snowman Sensory Bottle Snowman by Little Bins for Little Hands
Snowflake Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter
Ocean Sensory Bottles:
Ocean Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter
At the Beach Sensory Bottle from here on The Chaos and The Clutter
Glittery Mermaid Sensory Bottle from here on The Chaos and The Clutter
Shark Sensory Bottle from Stir the Wonder
Glittering Mermaid Tail Sensory Bottle from Rhythms of Play
Mini Aquarium in a Bottle: Ocean Sensory Play from A Little Pinch of Perfect
Ocean in a Bottle with 3 Simple Ingredients from Happy Hooligans
DIY Sea Shells Sensory Bottle Calm Down Jar from Rhythms of Play
Sky & Outer Space Sensory Bottles:
Outer Space Discovery Bottle by Artsy Momma
Space Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter
Slow Falling Star Discovery Bottle from Growing Hands-on Kids
Glow Sticks Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama
Gorgeous Rainbow Sky Sensory Bottles from Kids Craft Room
Galaxy in a Jar by Lemon Lime Adventures
Star Gazing Discovery Bottles by Pre-K Pages
Colours & Rainbow Sensory Bottles:
Rainbow Loom Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama (because we all have hundreds of those still lying around our houses!)
Colour Mixing Science Sensory Bottle
Rainbow Rainfall Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter
Mini Rainbow Sensory Bottles by The Kavanaugh Report
Rainbow Button Sensory Bottle by Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
Rainbow Sensory Bottle with Baby Oil from Ryan and Marsha
Color Mixing Sensory Bottle by Preschool Inspirations
Kindness Potions Sensory Bottles from the Imagination Tree
Amazing Rainbow Sensory and Discovery Bottles from Preschool Inspirations
Holiday Sensory Bottles:
New Year’s Sensory Bottle for Kids here on The Chaos and the Clutter
Christmas Ornaments Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter
Deconstructed Christmas Tree Discovery Bottle
Valentines Sensory Bottle by Little Hands for Little Hands
Valentines Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter
Floating Hearts Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama
St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter
4th of July Discovery Bottle from Growing Hands-On Kids
4th of July Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama
Halloween Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama
Monster Sensory Bottle here on The Chaos and the Clutter
Christmas Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama
Christmas Tree Sensory Bottle from Stir the Wonder
Christmas I-Spy Discovery Bottle here on The Chaos and The Clutter
Materials to make Sensory Bottles:
When it comes to making sensory bottles, the only limit is your imagination! You can use such a variety of materials. You need to start with an empty water bottle and filler (such as water, warm water mixed with clear glue or glitter glue, gel, hand sanitizer, sand, or rice).
Next, can add whatever you want. Any type of confetti, small toys, objects found in nature, craft supplies, beads, erasers, or sequins work well. The figures in Toobs work well in most sensory bottles, though not all the figures are small enough to fit through the hole in the bottle top.
Voss Artesian Still Water 4x500ml Plastic Bottles
Safari Ltd Insects TOOBSafari Ltd Pets TOOBSafari Ltd Space TOOBSafari Ltd Rainforest TOOBSafari Ltd Flowers TOOBSafari Ltd Fruits & Vegetables ToobMini Construction ToysSea ShellsElmer’s Liquid School Glue, ClearElmer’s Liquid Glitter GlueHand SanitizerCreative Converting Swirls ConfettiWater Beads Rainbow PackFishbowl BeadsGlow In The Dark Pigment PowderBe Amazing Insta-Snow JarPerler BeadsStar BeadsSequins and Spangles Shaker JarGlitter PowderPompoms
Looking for sensory play ideas and answers to all your questions about sensory processing? Check out Sensory Processing Explained: A Handbook for Parents and Educators. 