DIY Calm Down Bottles
In episode 2 of our podcast, we shared some of the strategies we use with our kids (and former students) to help them regulate their emotions. One of those strategies was calm down bottles (also commonly known as sensory bottles). These can be a really fun activity to do with your kids and allow them to show some of their creativity. Not only are they fun to make, but when your child is feeling frustrated or upset, you can have them shake the bottle and then sit and watch the glitter settle as their body calms down.
The best part about these bottles?! You can use items you probably already have at home (unless you’re like Sheena, who avoids glitter at all costs). We’ve included some basic directions below on how to make your own.
Materials:
Empty bottle (we prefer the VOSS water bottles, but any glass or plastic bottle works)
Warm water
Small toys/decorations (optional): Beads, sequins, pom poms, water beads, or any other small toys or decorations your child may want to use
Food coloring (optional)
Superglue or glue gun
Instructions:
Remove labels from your bottles. (Goo gone or rubbing alcohol works great. Steel wool pads are also good for glass bottles).
Fill the bottle 2/3 of the way full with warm water.
Add clear glue (We used 1-1 1/2 bottles for each. The more you use, the longer it will take the glitter to settle.)
Add glitter and any additional small toys/decorations your child would like to add to their bottle. (A funnel helps minimize the mess!)
If you want to add a little bit of coloring to your bottle, add 1-2 drops of food coloring to the water/glue mixture.
Use superglue or glue gun to secure the lid shut.
Shake and enjoy!
Different Variations:
Like we said earlier, have fun with this! We found glow-in-the-dark glue when getting our supplies that we thought could be fun. This one was a bit more of trial-and-error. WARNING: The glue was much thicker than the clear glue we typically use in our calm down bottles! The warm water wasn’t warm enough to mix with the glue, so we ended up filling up a pot of water on the stove, brought it to a boil, and warmed the bottle in there (like warming a baby bottle back in the day…and periodically shaking it to mix the glue and water) until the glue was thoroughly mixed in. Next time, we might try boiling water and stirring the water/glue mixture before adding any of the glitter or decorations. While this one was definitely more effort than our other calm down bottles, it was a huge hit with the kids!
There are also tons of “recipes” on Pinterest that include other ingredients like clear dish soap or glycerin. The point is that you want something to add to the water to slow the glitter down. Experiment with the different ingredients until you find the one that meets your needs!
Have fun with it! Let your little one pick out the glitter, sequins, toys, and food coloring. Make a special holiday one (Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas, etc.)! Make a sensory seek-and-find bottle by adding a variety of toys and LOTS of glitter! There are so many options out there that the possibilities are endless!
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