Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles have a calming down effect on toddlers. When the world becomes too much they can anchor down on the bottle, rattling it and rolling it around as a physical outlet (instead of hitting). As they watch the glitter and objects fall, their eyes are brought into their midline which helps organise and regulate the nervous system. As they watch the falling slowly, so their heart rate calms down as well.

What you’ll need:

Two bottles, one with water and one with oil.

Bottles. Little bottles. I used a little plastic cooldrink one (250ml) but you can go even smaller. I found these at Pick n Pay “Kid-O Sparkling” with Stevia. They sell them in packs of six.

1. Water

2. Baby oil (or some kind of oil, but baby oil is nice because it is clear)

3. Glue

4. Glitter

5. Food colouring

6. Little objects to put inside (eg buttons, little shapes, shiny beads, Stikeez, (try the glow in the dark Stikeez!)

Putting objects in cups for the kids to put in their bottles.

Pom poms

1. Steel wool

Method:

1. Fill the bottles with liquid. I suggest one water and one baby oil. You’ll notice the objects move slower in the baby oil.

2. Add glitter.

3. Add all the rest of the objects, pom poms and steel wool. Kids will have fun pushing them in.

4. Glue on the lid!

Have you ever made a sensory bottle? And what was your experience?

Water on the left and oil on the right.

Oil on the left, water on the right.

#sensory