Are your kids anxious or irritable? Calm down sensory bottles may be just the solution you need for your students! Calm down bottles, also known as calm down jars, are so much more than just beautiful sensory bottles! You can use calm down jars in the classroom as an incredible self-regulation tool. This is an easy, indirect guidance technique that children will love . . . and it’s fantastic for adults, too. We all have those difficult moments.
Calm Down Bottles
These simple bottles can be used to help children who are experiencing big emotions. Basically a calm down bottle is a clear plastic bottle or small baby soda bottles filled with objects and liquids that induce more calm feelings when shaken and watched. Children love watching water beads move back and forth or a blue “ocean” swirling around. A bottle with clear gel and emoji erasers is perfect for kids who need practice identifying emotions.
While you can purchase these types of sensory tools, you can also easily make them.
DIY Glitter Sensory Bottles (Pre-K Pages)
Baby Soda Bottle Discovery Bottles (Pre-K Pages)
How to Make a Perfect Sensory Bottle (Preschool Inspirations)
Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101 (Rhythms of Play)
How to Make Glitter Bottles (Little Bins for Little Hands)
Tips for Making and Using Bottles
- Don’t fill the bottles completely. Leave at least a small space at the top so liquid or materials will move back and forth.
- Glue lids onto the bottles. The lids are tight and difficult to remove but using glue will insure that the bottles are safe for young children. Use hot glue, epoxy glue, or E6000 glue.
- Liquids to use in discovery bottles: vegetable oil, mineral oil, baby oil, corn syrup, dish soap, shampoo, hair gel, water.
- Put several discovery bottles in a cubby tub. Set the tub on a shelf, a table, or the floor in your Calm Down area.
- Stand a few bottles on a shelf or table. They will stand on their lids.
A Year of Calm Down Bottles
Calm down bottles and sensory bottles can be used throughout the year. Switch a few new ones into your science center, sensory area, or calm down space. Here are dozens of ideas for calm down bottles for your classroom. Use them seasonally or for different themes.
Alphabet
Alphabet Calm Down Bottle (Pre-K Pages)
LMNOPeas Sensory Bottle (Pre-K Pages)
Alphabet Calm Down Bottle (Preschool Inspirations)
Letter Discovery Bottle and Practice for Kids (Little Bins for Little Hands)
ABC Sensory Bottle (Parenting Chaos)
Glowing ABC Sensory Bottle (Where Imagination Grows)
Colors
Flame Color Mixing Bottle (Pre-K Pages)
Color Mixing Sensory Bottle (Preschool Inspirations)
Marble Color Mixing Discovery Bottle (Still Playing School)
Gold and Silver Bottles (Little Bins for Little Hands)
Rainbow Discovery Bottles (Play to Learn Preschool)
Lego Calm Down Jar (Lemon Lime Adventures)
Fall
Fall Leaf Sensory Bottle (Pre-K Pages)
Harvest I-Spy Bottle (Pre-K Pages)
Fall Glitter Jars (Little Bins for Little Hands)
Acorn Sensory Bottle (Still Playing School)
Fall Discovery Bottle (Preschool Inspirations)
Fall Sunset Sensory Bottle (Teaching Mama)
Windy Fall Leaves Sensory Bottle (Rhythms of Play)
Pumpkin Seed Discovery Bottles (Fun-A-Day)
Turkey Sensory Bottle (Fun-A-Day)
Glow in the Dark
Glow in the Dark Beads Sensory Bottle (Fun Learning for Kids)
Glow in the Dark Ocean Bottle (Sunny Day Family)
Glow in the Dark Rainbow Loom Band Sensory Bottle (Rhythms of Play)
Glow Sticks Sensory Bottle (Teaching Mama)
Halloween
Halloween Jack-o-Lantern Sensory Bottle (Pre-K Pages)
Glowing Halloween Sensory Bottle (Rhythms of Play)
Halloween Spidery Sensory Bottle (Little Bins for Little Hands)
October Sensory Bottle (Teaching Mama)
Halloween Discovery Bottles (Fun at Home with Kids)
Trees and Plants
Vegetable Garden Sensory Bottle (Sunny Day Family)
Pine Needles in a Bottle (Teach Preschool)
Bird Seed and Pinecone Sensory Bottle (Teach Beside Me)
Earthy Explorations Soil Discovery Bottle (One Time Through)
Citrus Discovery Bottle (When Imagination Grows)
Flower Discovery Bottle (Preschool Inspirations)
Winter
Snowman Sensory Bottle (Pre-K Pages)
Snowstorm Sensory Bottle (Rhythms of Play)
Penguin Sensory Bottle (Teaching Mama)
Melted Snowman Bottle (The Chaos and the Clutter)
Blizzard in a Bottle (No Time for Flash Cards)
Arctic Sensory Bottle (The Chaos and the Clutter)
Christmas
Christmas Sensory Bottle (Teaching Mama)
Christmas Tree Sensory Bottle (Stir the Wonder)
Shake Up a Christmas Tree Discovery Bottle (One Time Through)
Jingle Bells Discovery Bottle (Preschool Inspirations)
Calming Christmas Discovery Bottle (Sugar Aunts)
Valentine’s Day
Valentine Sensory Bottle (Pre-K Pages)
Floating Hearts Sensory Bottle (Teaching Mama)
Slow Falling Hearts Sensory Bottle (Rhythms of Play)
Heart Glitter Jar (Fun-A-Day)
Suspended Conversation Heart Discovery Bottle (Lemon Lime Adventures)
Valentine’s Day Sensory Bottle (Sugar Aunts)
Color Separating Sensory Bottle (Preschool Inspirations)
St. Patrick’s Day
6 St. Patrick’s Day Science Discovery Bottles (Little Bins for Little Hands)
St. Patrick’s Day Green Sensory Bottle (Teaching Mama)
Pot of Gold Sensory Bottle (Sunny Day Family)
Shamrock and Pennies Sensory Bottle (The Chaos and the Clutter)
Rainbow
Rainbow I-Spy Bottle (Pre-K Pages)
Rainbow Glitter Jars (Fun-A-Day)
Rainbow Pipe Cleaner Sensory Bottle (Fun Learning for Kids)
Rainbow Counting Bears Sensory Bottles (Preschool Inspirations)
Simple Rainbow Calm Down Jars (Lemon Lime Adventures)
Rainbow Polka Dot Discovery Bottle (Still Playing School)
Rainbow Bubble Beads Discovery Bottle (Modern Preschool)
Spring
Spring Sensory Bottles (Pre-K Pages)
Rainy Weather Sensory Bottle (Pre-K Pages)
Rainstick Sensory Bottle (Rhythms of Play)
Simple Spring Nature Sensory Bottles (Lemon Lime Adventures)
Butterfly Sensory Bottle (Rhythms of Play)
Lilac Sensory Bottle (Parenting Chaos)
Spring Sensory Bottle (The Chaos and the Clutter)
Bird Watching Discovery Bottle (No Time for Flash Cards)
Busy Bee Sensory Bottle (Fun-A-Day)
Easter Egg Letter Hunt (No Time for Flash Cards)
Easter Sensory Bottle (Little Bins for Little Hands)
Space
Star Gazing Sensory Bottle (Pre-K Pages)
Galaxy Calm Down Bottle (Preschool Inspirations)
Rainbow Polka Dot Discovery Bottle (Still Playing School)
Rainbow Galaxy Sensory Bottle (Rhythms of Play)
Galaxy in a Jar (Lemon Lime Adventures)
Outer Space Sensory Bottle (The Chaos and the Clutter)
Robot Discovery Bottle (Fun-a-Day)
Ocean
Ocean Discovery Bottle (Little Bins for Little Hands)
Swimming Turtle Sensory Bottle (Sunny Day Family)
Shark Sensory Bottle (Stir the Wonder)
Mini Aquarium in a Bottle (A Little Pinch of Perfect)
Sea Shells Sensory Bottle (Rhythms of Play)
Sunken Treasure Pirate Sensory Bottles (Fun-a-Day)
Summer
Sunburst Glitter Sensory Bottle (Rhythms of Play)
Beach Discovery Bottle (Little Bins for Little Hands)
4th of July Sensory Bottle (Teaching Mama)
Red, White, and Blue Stars Sensory Bottle (Rhythms of Play)
Original post contributed by Katie at Preschool Inspirations.
