Aside from the sensory element, this engaging science activity is also effective for teaching the concepts of colour (for younger children) and density (for older children). By using different densities, the two colours are able to mix to form a new colour and then separate again. But beyond the science, they are beautiful to look at and simply mesmerising. Use a clean bottle when making your discovery bottle…otherwise, you may acquire some unwanted growth later on. I pour the water into a different cup, then rinse it out if it is a flavored water.

Through time I’ve learned that smaller bottles are best for heavy sensory bottles and a bottle that works well for big kids isn’t always what is best for babies and toddlers.Set contains four tubes each with a unique mesmerising motion - soothing gravity spinner, fantastic fidget tube, calming glitter tube and a magical reverse hourglass This Voss Water, 11.2 oz. is the smalles size and perfect for all ages. I highly recommended it for any sensory bottles that use liquid.

The bottle is like your lens. The shape and clarity are important as well as the size and sturdiness. They also make a great craft activity and are simple to make. The best bit is that the overall purpose of a sensory bottle is entirely open to your child to determine. They can explore textures, colours and contents by shaking, rolling and up-ending the bottle. Or, alternatively, use it to calm down and as a meditation tool. How cool is that?! Just adding them to water can be a really engaging activity. As they expand in size and suspend in water or oil, the water beads appear to blur and bounce around. It’s really quite hypnotic, and lots of fun! Mineral Oil – This will slightly slow down whatever you have in your bottle. Items such as glitter will slow down a bit more. Mineral oil is also my “go to” solution for magnets and metallic items. Here’s my magnetic discovery bottle in mineral oil. Baby Oil – This is mostly scented mineral oil. It is available at the dollar store usually. I want to try the oil gel soon!

Like all sensory play, sensory bottles are a really useful tool for promoting a sense of wonder and encouraging children to use their senses to explore and discover. They can also help with the development of fine motor skills when children are involved in making the bottles, and language and social skills when shared. They can be used in homes, schools, and care homes by users of any age and ability, as they can be used by a range of controllers (ex. our IRiS Talker products). Experia have a range of controllers catering for a large range ofabilities, specifically designed so users can get the most benefits from the experience - these are our iRiS Talkers. Corn Syrup – Corn syrup will slow objects down quite a bit. Make sure your objects are super clean! My alphabet discovery bottle is made of corn syrup. Pipe Cleaners or Chenille stems – These are magnetic so you can put a magnet on the side of the bottle to attract them.

These unicorn or mermaid-inspired glitter sensory jars from Childhood 101 is so eye-catching! Kids will love the way the colours blend together, creating a really magical focus for them during calm down time. We wanted to share some of our favourite DIY sensory bottles – all of which offer a unique element for discovery and exploration, which are sure to be a hit with children of all ages. Water Beads and Water — One of my absolute favorite sensory bottles is made of water beads! These Rainbow Discovery Bottles from Play to Learn Preschool are AMAZING. If you only make one set this year, make these! You May Also Enjoy Awesome Sensory Play Environments For Kids In Ireland Slow Motion Sensory Bottles

These are some sensory bottles made by my friend Cathy, and she used plastic spice containers that we found at the thrift store. Dry Candy – I love this conversation heart bottle from Sunny Day Family and this fall pumpkin one from Modern Preschool. These vibrant oil and water discovery bottles are a safe science activity for preschoolers and older children, but will need some adult supervision. The vibrant results of these colour-changing bottles from Preschool Inspirations shows just how eye-catching they can be. Glitter Glue – Mix this with hot water for a beautiful bottle. I use the kind from the Dollar Store. This rainbow sensory bottle with water beads from Ryan & Marsha is another way to enjoy them. Of course you could make any pattern of colours you like, but in this case the rainbow effect is really mesmerising, particular when held up to the light.