DIY Sensory Bottle Ideas for Kids to Make

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If your child has sensory processing issues or ADD — or even if they don’t — they will love these simple sensory bottles.

Also known as “calm down bottles,” these DIY sensory bottles are a tool for younger and older children alike that can help them self-regulate by giving them something peaceful to focus on.

Table of Contents

1 What Items Can You Put in a Sensory Bottle?
2 Sensory Bottle for Kids

What Items Can You Put in a Sensory Bottle?

One of the nice things about sensory bottles is that they’re so versatile. You don’t even really directions, and you can vary it any way you like depending on your personal preference and what you have in the house.

The basic recipe is start with a clean, empty bottle, and fill it with:

Warm water
A “sticky” substance, like glitter glue, corn syrup, cooking oil, hair gel, etc
Add anything from water beads to confetti to pipe cleaners to plastic toys
Optional “pretty things” like food coloring

You can also make a “non-liquid” version by filling a bottle or jar with rice and a bunch of small items.

We like to use 11.2 ounce VOSS Water Bottles for our sensory bottles. They’re the perfect size and shape, with smooth edges and a flat bottom, and the finished product looks beautiful.

They come in either glass or plastic, but I recommend the plastic bottles because they’re lighter and easier to hold, especially for small hands.

In addition to being available on Amazon, you can also buy Voss bottles at Kroger, Wal-Mart, or Whole Foods, or Target.

Another thing we like to do is secure the lid to the bottle by using a hot glue gun when we’re finished.

Here are 11 great ideas for kids’ sensory bottles. Think of them as a jumping-off point for coming up with your own versions.

Sensory Bottle for Kids

Brown Bear Sensory Bottle

Photo Credit: ABCs of Literacy

If you teach preschool or kindergarten (or have kids that age at home), then you know all about the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

This super-easy sensory bottle full of ... well, brown bears -- will give little hands something to play with when they listen to this favorite book yet again.

Glow in the Dark Dinosaur Bottle

Glow in the dark stuff is always cool, and you can whip up this fascinating bottle with the help of some water beads, glow sticks, and baby oil.

We put dinosaurs in ours, but you can add any small plastic toys that you like.

Fall Snow Globe

Photo Credit: The Soccer Mom Blog

This Fall Snow Globe is a cute and easy kids craft or decor idea! Learn how to make a falling leaves sensory bottle with step by step video instructions!

Winter Snowflake Glitter Bottle

These beautiful sensory bottle, made of confetti snowflakes, plastic snowflakes, and iridescent glitter, can do double-duty as home decor in the wintertime.

Mini Aquarium in a Bottle (Ocean Sensory Play)

These bottles are a great way to learn about sea creatures and ocean life.

Pirate Sunken Treasure Bottles

Photo Credit: In Our Spare Time

Kids of all ages will love making these easy sunken treasure sensory bottles, made with clear glue, gold sequins, and aquarium gems.

I Spy Bottles

Photo Credit: Team Cartwright

The great thing about I Spy Bottles is that they keep your kids focused for quite some time. You can create these using whatever you have handy, including things like pipe cleaner pieces, buttons, and small pieces of ribbon.

Rainbow Discovery Bottles

Photo Credit: The Inspiration Edit

Who doesn't love rainbows? Colored sequins are the secret for making thee simple, but beautiful, sensory bottles.

Monster Sensory Bottle

Photo Credit: The Soccer Mom Blog

This Monster Sensory Bottle is a sparkly and spooky kids craft and calm-down tool that can be great for Halloween -- or any time.

Bursting with glitter and googly eyes. It kind of reminds me of some of the characters in Monsters University!

DIY Unicorn Find-It Jar

Photo Credit: Kids Crafts

Lots of little hidden trinkets that kids can hunt for make these sensory bottles engaging for a child during a melt down or needing some screen free mindfulness.

You can get creative and add anything from small toys to loom bands to rainbow ribbon.

DIY Thanksgiving Glitter Jar

Photo Credit: Lil Tigers

Looking for something simple and fun to do for Thanksgiving? Save your tomato sauce jars and make these Turkey Glitter Jars. Food coloring can be used to easily give each one a different look.

water beads