11+ Sensory Bottle Benefits for Kids

Sensory bottles aren't just for infants or toddlers. They're great for kids of all ages. Here are some sensory bottle benefits you should know about.

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You likely already know that sensory play is good for kids. Or maybe you've heard it's good for kids. You just don't really know why.

But seriously, you might be wondering how a bottle filled with sensory materials could possibly be that beneficial. Especially beyond the infant and toddler years. 

I mean there has to be a reason why there are so many cool sensory bottle ideas on Pinterest, right? So...what's the deal exactly?

Well, there are actually a lot of reasons why making your own DIY sensory bottle can be great for your child's development. And hopefully after reading through these benefits, you'll be convinced of their awesomeness and give it a try.

Obviously, there's the sensory exploration piece. Or, in the case of calm down sensory bottles, there's the added benefit of improving emotional regulation skills. 

But that's just the tip of the iceberg, as they say. There's more to sensory bottles than that, as you'll soon see.

Below you'll find a list of 11+ sensory bottle benefits as we explore why this type of sensory play is great for kids of all ages. You might be surprised by how helpful a discovery sensory bottle can be.

11+ Sensory Bottle Benefits for Kids

1. They offer safe and mess free sensory rich experiences. There's no mess to worry about and choking hazards are contained, which is one of the big benefits of sensory bottles for infants and toddlers, in particular. They can safely explore items that might be otherwise too small for them.

2. Sensory bottles are fun and engaging to play with, regardless of the age. Kids love to shake them, squeeze them, and roll them, among many other things. 

3. They're designed to stimulate and engage the senses and can provide lots of great sensory input. Makes sense given that the word sensory is in the name, right? Here are some examples of their sensory benefits:

• Kids can get proprioceptive input (definition here) by shaking or squeezing the bottle. Their sense of touch is engaged here as well.

• The items inside the bottle may make noise as it's turned, twisted, and shaken, engaging the auditory sense. Especially if the bottle uses materials such as rice, beans, or jingle bells.

• Obviously, the visual sense is actively used as kids look at how the bottle changes as it's moved around.

4. Another benefit of sensory bottles is that they're portable. Kids can bring them on the go. And parents don't have to worry about a piece going missing or the kids making a big mess since everything's contained inside.

5. They're great for emotional regulation by promoting relaxation. Many sensory bottles, such as glitter jars in particular, can be used to help kids practice deep breathing and mindfulness.

6. Sensory bottles are great for language development. They can be used to:

• Build vocabulary and practice core vocabulary words

• Practice labeling and describing

• Work on answering and asking WH questions, which is something many hyperlexic kids need help with

• Model specific gestalts or scripts for gestalt language processors

• Practice articulation

7. They're also great for social skills development. Kids can use sensory bottles to practice turn taking, following directions, problem solving, and a variety of other social skills.

8. Another benefit of sensory bottles is that they can be used to teach math, science, and literacy. Depending on the theme of the sensory bottle, a child could be working on:

• Pre-reading skills, including letter recognition or sight words (e.g.: alphabet sensory bottles or a name recognition sensory bottle)

• Math skills such as counting or shapes (e.g.: I spy sensory bottles)

• Color learning (e.g.: rainbow sensory bottles or a color mixing sensory bottle)

• Scientific concepts such as viscosity, magnetism, or life cycles (e.g.: butterfly life cycle sensory bottle), but also skills such as making an observation, making predictions, testing a hypothesis, etc.

9. Sensory bottles can help stimulate curiosity, exploration, and a desire to learn. I spy sensory bottles in particular draw kids in. They wonder what else might be floating or hiding inside the bottle. So they'll twist and turn and shake to discover what else is inside.

10. They can be used to improve attention and focus. Kids will focus purely on the bottle and what's inside, ignoring other distractions around them. There's just something about sensory bottles that suck kids in (okay, adults too!).

11. Sensory bottles are also great for developing motor skills. They can be used to help improve fine motor skills, especially if your child assists in making the bottle itself. Kids can also work on gross motor skills by shaking, rolling, squeezing, turning, and twisting the bottle as they play.

A Quick Recap of the Benefits of Sensory Bottles for Kids

As was covered above, there are lots of benefits of sensory bottles for kids. These benefits include:

• Safe and mess free sensory exploration

• They're fun and engaging to play with

• Sensory stimulation and input

• They're portable and great for on the go

• Emotional regulation skills

• Language skills

• Social skills

• Early learning in areas such as math, science, and literacy

• Stimulate curiosity

• Improve attention and focus

• Motor skills development

Now that you know some of the sensory bottle benefits, you might as well go try making your own. Find ideas and inspiration here.

What is a Sensory Bottle? The Basics Explained

Curious about sensory bottles, what they are, and who they are for? Below we'll answer the question: what is a sensory bottle?

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Lots of parents are a bit hesitant when they're first trying out some sensory activities at home with their small children. Especially if all they know about are sensory bins, slime, or some other messy activity (ahem...giant shaving cream rainbow anyone?!). 

As I've alluded to, one concern might be the mess that usually accompanies sensory activities. 

You might picture rice thrown everywhere as if it's confetti and dread the idea of cleaning it up. You might imagine play dough colors mixed together (the horror!) or slime embedded in the carpet (that's the worst!). These are totally valid concerns to have, by the way. 

But, remember, sensory play doesn't necessarily mean messy. 

Another concern might be related to the age of their child. How do you safely do sensory activities with a baby or young toddler? Choking hazards are a valid concern so the idea of using sand, water beads, or rocks might not be your idea of fun. And glitter with a baby? You'd have to be nuts! Naturally, you'd prefer a safer alternative.

When it comes to sensory play, you don't have to start with a rice sensory bin or a tray full of shaving cream. 

However, a great first introductory activity you could try is making a sensory bottle. Especially since this type of play addresses the above two concerns that you might have. 

But what is a sensory bottle exactly? Well, that's what we'll dig into below! And hopefully you'll be excited to make a cool sensory bottle of your own for your child.

What is a Sensory Bottle?

Sensory bottles are containers of sensory materials that children can use to safely play, observe, and explore their senses. They're like sensory bins, but in bottle form. Except, in this case, the mess is contained and there's no risk of choking on small objects, which makes them great for even the littlest of kids.

As the name implies, it is often a bottle, but it can sometimes be a jar. As a result, sensory bottles can come in all shapes and sizes. There are lots of different sensory bottle options out there. Although, more often than not, people tend to use the VOSS style water bottles because of their shape, size, and durability.

A basic sensory bottle is filled with materials that can move up, move down, or swirl around. Kids can shake them up and then watch the materials settle down to the bottom. 

As I've already mentioned, kids can safely explore materials without the mess or without worrying about choking hazards too, which is always nice.

Other Names for Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles go by a variety of names. You might hear them referred to as: 

• Calm down bottles

• Glitter jars

• Mindfulness jars

• I spy sensory bottles

• Glitter sensory bottles

• Sensory discovery bottles. 

There are probably a handful of other names too. Regardless of what you call them though, they are great tools for kids and there are a lot of benefits to using a sensory bottle.

Most often, sensory bottles are used as a visual sensory aid to help kids self-regulate their bodies and calm down. Hence, why they are often referred to as calm down bottles. Watching the glitter settle in a slow moving sensory bottle is so mesmerizing and regulating. That's why they're a great tool to add to a child's calm down kit.

Who are Sensory Bottles for? What Ages are They Good for?

As cliché as it may sound, sensory bottles are great for all ages. They really are! There is no age limit or boundary when it comes to this type of sensory play. Especially if you're using them as calm down bottles.

Babies, young toddlers, and preschoolers can use these discovery bottles to experience materials that might usually be off limits because of their size. There's no risk of choking as the items are contained and sealed inside the bottle. The size and weight of the bottles are also great for little hands to hold onto and carry. Or you can opt for small bottles to fit their hands.

What I love about sensory bottles is how accessible they are. Not only are they great for kids of all ages, but they're great for kids of a wide range of abilities (sensory or motor wise).

Someone with limited mobility or motor delays can enjoy a sensory bottle. They can bump or roll the sensory bottle as it lays on its side. Someone can shake the bottle up for them and then the child can enjoy watching the objects swirl and settle.

They are also great for anyone who might still be mouthing things, regardless of age. After all, there are lots of older kids (and even adults!) who chew on everything. As a result, some sensory play exploration might be off limits due to choking hazards or even pica. So sensory bottles are a great alternative.

There are also lots of kids who have tactile sensory sensitivities and avoid touching anything. The tactile avoiders, if you will. A sensory bottle can give them a chance to explore different materials without having to actually touch them directly.

Sensory bottles are also great for kids who are visual sensory seekers. Kids can sit and watch glitter (or other objects) swirl and fall over and over, which is really calming. Which leads me to my next point...

Finally, they're great for anyone who needs a bit of extra support when it comes to emotional regulation. Anyone who needs some help calming themselves down. As you can tell, we're talking specifically about calm down bottles here. 

Part of the reason why sensory bottles are so commonplace these days is because of how beneficial they are for self regulation. That's why Pinterest is full of fun calm down sensory bottle ideas, such as the ones found here. They're really a great tool to have on hand for kids.

To Wrap Up Our Discussion of Sensory Bottles...

Hopefully I've answered your question: what is a sensory bottle? Assuming you read everything above (I know that was a lot), you should now understand that sensory bottles, no matter what name you give them, are great for kids of all ages and abilities and can be a great way to get started with sensory play. So be sure to try making one for your kids.

Super Mario Sensory Bottles

DIY calm down sensory bottles for kids who love Super Mario! These calming bottles are so easy to make!

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Sensory bottles are a great self regulation tool and make the perfect addition to a calm down kit. And they're always more effective when they appeal to your children's interests.

My kids, for instance, love Mario. We've done lots of Mario perler bead crafts and even made a Super Mario Climbing Wall. They've memorized the entire Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia by now too, I'm sure.

So obviously, we had to make Mario themed sensory bottles too because #marioislife

DIY Sensory Bottles with Glitter that are Inspired by Super Mario!

When I originally came up with this idea, I considered adding mustaches to the bottles and googly eyes so it looked like Mario and Luigi's faces. But I decided to keep it simple.

Besides, I wanted to reuse these plastic bottles for other projects eventually too. So I didn't really want to permanently glue anything or draw anything on the outside.

I made three bottles in total. One inspired by Mario. Another inspired by Luigi. And another inspired by a Yoshi egg.

Obviously, you could run with this idea and make one inspired by Toad (my personal favorite character!) or Bowser or Princess Peach. Or maybe a goomba is more your style? Regardless, I stuck with the two main characters, as well as their pal Yoshi.

I think they turned out really neat!

How to Make the Mario Inspired Calm Down Sensory Bottle

It's a-me, Mario! Let's a-go and make this sensory bottle. Here's what you'll need:

• Clear plastic water bottle - I used a VOSS bottle (tip for Canadians: I can always find them in stock at London Drugs!)

• Clear glue

• Water

• Red tape

• White dot sticker

• Red permanent marker

• Red liquid watercolor or food coloring

• Red glitter

Add the clear glue and water to the plastic bottle using a 20/80 or 25/75 ratio (I usually just eyeball this step). Add the liquid watercolor and glitter until it reaches a nice bright red. Put the lid on and shake to mix. If it looks good, then you can secure the lid permanently with super glue or a hot glue gun (optional). If not, you can always add more coloring or glitter at this point.

Once you've got the right mix of glitter and coloring, it's time to add Mario's hat to the bottle. Wrap the lid with the red tape. Write an uppercase M on a white dot sticker using the red permanent marker. Then go ahead and add the Mario logo to the lid.

When finished, it should look like this:

How to Make the Luigi Inspired Calming Sensory Bottle

Here's what you'll need to make this Luigi sensory bottle:

• Clear plastic water bottle - I used a VOSS bottle.

• Clear glue

• Water

• Green tape

• White dot sticker

• Green permanent marker

• Green liquid watercolor or food coloring

• Green glitter

Add the clear glue and water to the plastic bottle using a 20/80 or 25/75 ratio. Next, add green liquid watercolor until it reaches your desired coloring. Add lots and lots of green glitter. Put the lid on and shake to mix. If it looks good, then you can secure the lid permanently with super glue or a hot glue gun (optional). If not, you can always add more coloring or glitter at this point.

Once you've got the right mix of glitter and coloring, it's time to make the Luigi hat. Wrap the lid with the green tape. Write an uppercase L on a white dot sticker using the green permanent marker. Add the Luigi logo to the lid.

When finished, it should look like this:

How to Make the Yoshi Egg Inspired Calm Down Bottle

To make the Yoshi egg sensory bottle, you'll need:

• Clear plastic water bottle - I used a VOSS bottle.

• Clear glue

• Water

• Green dot stickers

• Pearl white liquid watercolor

• White glitter

• Silver glitter

Decorate the outside of the plastic bottle with the green dot stickers. Use a 20/80 or 25/75 ratio of clear glue to water by adding the clear glue first. Next, add a few squirts of the pearl white liquid watercolor. Then add as much (or as little) glitter as you'd like. Put the lid on and shake to mix. If it looks good, then you can secure the lid permanently with super glue or a hot glue gun (optional). If not, you can always add more coloring or glitter at this point.

With this particular sensory bottle, you can watch both the glitter and the liquid watercolors swirl around and settle. It's a much more subtle sensory bottle than the other two.

Other Mario Ideas You'll Love

Mario Gift Ideas for Kids

DIY Super Mario Climbing Wall

Mario Activities & Crafts

15+ Winter Sensory Bottles That are Calming for Kids

How to make winter themed sensory bottles that are a perfect addition to your child's calm down kit.

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When you live in the Canadian prairies like I do, you get to enjoy snow and winter for almost half of the year. Snow will fall starting anywhere from late September to early October and stick around until April. And sometimes it snows in May.

So basically we have two seasons here. Winter and construction season.

But if you live somewhere that doesn't experience snow - and extreme cold weather - like we do, then these winter and snow sensory bottles are the perfect way to introduce babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to what you're missing out on.

Or they're a great way to enjoy the season without having to put on thousands of layers before you head outside.

Snow & Winter Themed Sensory Bottles for Toddlers & Preschoolers

When it comes to winter, there's lots of imagery and colors that come to mind. Blues, grays, and whites. Snowflakes, snowmen, and icicles. Sparkly, glistening snow. Needless to say, you'll find lots of these colors and imagery contained within these winter calm down bottles for kids.

So whether you're wanting to make a snowman sensory bottle or a snowflake themed one, this list of calming bottles has you covered!

1. Snowman Sensory Bottle from Little Bins for Little Hands

2. Blizzard in a Bottle from No Time for Flash Cards

3. Frozen Inspired Winter Sensory Bottle from Childhood 101 (pictured)

4. Snowmen in a Snowstorm Sensory Bottle from Modern Preschool (pictured)

5. Snowball Sensory Bottle from Ryan & Marsha

6. Winter Sensory Bottle from Penny Pinchin' Mom

7. Easy Winter Discovery Bottles from Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds

8. Snow Globe Sensory Bottle from The Best Ideas for Kids

9. Frozen Inspired Snowstorm Sensory Bottle from Rhythms of Play

10. Snowy Day Sensory Bottle from Views from a Step Stool (pictured)

11. Dream Snow Sensory Bottle from Inspiration Laboratories

12. Melted Snowman Sensory Bottle from The Chaos & The Clutter

13. Winter Glitter Calming Jar from Squirrels of a Feather

14. Winter Snowflake Sensory Bottle from Mommy Evolution

15. Snowman Sensory Bottle from Pre-K Pages

16. Arctic Sensory Bottle from The Chaos & The Clutter

Other Winter Activities You'll Love

Easy Winter Sensory Bin

Outdoor Winter Bucket List

Scented Snowflake Sensory Bin

20+ Calming Christmas Sensory Bottles for Kids

Inspiration for how to make Christmas sensory bottles for your child's calm down kit.

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Christmas is definitely the season of sensory overload and sensory meltdowns are aplenty. Routines change drastically during Christmas and, for many, it's hard to cope with transitions.

These Christmas sensory bottles are a great tool for helping kids cope with the changes in routine and for teaching self-regulation skills. And, hopefully, they will help your child avoid getting stuck in meltdown mode.

Besides, kids of all ages - yes, even babies and toddlers! - can enjoy the benefits of these sensory bottles. They're just a great tool for helping kids self-regulate and calm down when they're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or frustrated. They even make a great addition to a Christmas calm down kit.

Christmas Sensory Bottles that'll Help Kids Calm Down

Ready to make a Christmas calm down bottle for your kids?

Well, grab some jingle bells and some glitter because you're going to find lots of inspiration for how to make your own sensory bottle for Christmas. You'll probably want to make them all because they're all so pretty!

1. Red & Green Christmas Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama (pictured)

2. Liquid Density Christmas Bottle from Little Bins for Little Hands

3. Christmas Tree Sensory Bottle from The Chaos & The Clutter

4. Christmas Sensory Bottles for Babies from Little Lifelong Learners (pictured)

5. Christmas Tree Sensory Bottle from Stir the Wonder

6. Magnetic Christmas Sensory Bottles from No Time for Flash Cards

7. Christmas Holly Sensory Bottle from Views from a Step Stool

8. Christmas Tree in a Bottle from Sunny Day Family

9. Christmas Confetti Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama

10. Grinch Calming Jar from Big Family Blessings

11. Christmas Sensory Bottle from Laughing Kids Learn

12. Jingle Bells Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations

13. How to Make a Christmas Sensory Bottle from Blessed Beyond a Doubt

14. Christmas Shapes Discovery Bottle from The OT Toolbox

15. Shake Up a Christmas Tree Sensory Bottle from One Time Through

16. Christmas Ornaments Sensory Bottle from The Chaos & The Clutter

17. Christmas I Spy Bottle from Simple Play Ideas

18. Christmas I Spy Sensory Bottles from Little Bins for Little Hands

19. Holiday Sound Tubes Sensory Bottles from No Time for Flash Cards

20. Christmas Counting I Spy Discovery Bottle from The Chaos & The Clutter

Other Calming Christmas Resources You'll Love

Winter Sensory Bottles

Christmas Calm Down Kit

Free Christmas Social Stories

15+ Halloween Themed Sensory Bottles that are Calming for Kids

How to make Halloween themed sensory bottles that are a perfect addition to your child's calm down kit.

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Calm down bottles are such a great tool for anxious kids who worry.

They help kids self-regulate when they're overwhelmed and they make for a great visual stim.

And most importantly, they work. Yep, there's just something about watching the glitter or other items swirl and spin around. It's so mesmerizing. And yes, it can help calm your child when they're feeling overwhelmed or are trying to deal with anxiety or other big emotions.

So if you want to switch things up in your child's calm down kit this Halloween, then try making one of these awesome Halloween sensory bottles.

Halloween Calm Down Bottles for Toddlers & Preschoolers

One thing I love about sensory bottles is that they are great for kids of all ages, even babies.

Another thing I love is that the possibilities are endless in terms of what you create. You can fill the bottles with all sorts of materials. You can even make them glow in the dark! And you can literally make calm down bottles based on any of your kid's interests or the seasons.

Since Halloween's coming up, why not make your own Halloween sensory bottle or jar? Get inspired with these awesome ideas.

1. Jack-O-Lantern Halloween Sensory Bottle from Pre-K Pages

2. Spooky Spiderweb Halloween Sensory Bottle from Little Bins for Little Hands

3. Easy Halloween Glitter Sensory Bottle from Simple Everyday Mom (pictured)

4. Monster Eyes Sensory Bottle from The Soccer Mom Blog

5. Two Simple Halloween Sensory Bottles from Fun at Home with Kids

6. Frankenstein Sensory Bottle from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails (pictured)

7. Glow in the Dark Ghost Sensory Bottle from Rhythms of Play (pictured)

8. Halloween I Spy Bottle from One Time Through

9. Jack-O-Lantern Water Beads Sensory Bottle from Teach Me Mommy

10. Glowing Pumpkin Halloween Sensory Bottle from Rhythms of Play

11. Quick & Easy Halloween Sensory Jars from Sunshine & Holly

12. Easy Halloween I Spy Bottles from Of Learning & Nesting

13. Glow in the Dark Halloween Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama

14. Colorful Halloween Sensory Bottle from Childhood 101

15. Candy Corn Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations

Other Resources You'll Love

Halloween Deep Breathing Exercise with Free Printable Poster

Free Printable Jack-O-Lantern Themed I Spy Game

Fall Sensory Bottles

Calming Ocean Sensory Bottles for Kids

Looking for sensory bottle ideas for kids? Try one of these calming ocean sensory bottles! Your kids are going to love them!

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There's something about watching fish swim around in aquariums. The bubbles rising slowly to the surface. The gentle way they swim back and forth. It's mesmerizing. Now the goal here is to try and recreate that same mesmerizing feel by making your own aquarium sensory bottle.

The same goes for waves. They rhythmically crash against the beach, gently spraying a cool mist on your skin. Now imagine if we could capture that in water bottles. 

I get sucked in watching both. There's just something so soothing - so calm - about waves, oceans, and aquariums. And my kids think so too. In fact, we used to make trips to the pet store when they were younger just to watch the different fish swim around in their little tanks.

These ocean sensory bottles for kids capture those soothing aspects and contain them to a bottle your child can actually hold. No real fish necessary. No extra creatures to feed or keep alive, am I right?

So...Why Use Sensory Bottles?

If you're new to sensory bottles, you might be wondering what's up with this whole sensory bottle craze? They suddenly seem to be everywhere on social media, especially Pinterest. Seriously, Pinterest is filled with DIY sensory bottle recipes and ideas that it can be so overwhelming to know where to start.

Well, the thing is sensory bottles can help with self regulation, reduce anxiety, and help kids calm down.

You can use calm down bottles, such as these ocean themed ones, in classrooms or add them to your child's calm down corner. Or trying add them to your child's calm down box or anti-anxiety kit or whatever else you want to call it. It goes by many names.

You can even make your own awesome sensory bottle to take on the go. Just use a smaller bottle instead of the standard Voss bottles that most use to make your own travel sized version.

The Best Ocean Sensory Bottles for Kids!

Ready to make your own ocean sensory bottle? Try one of these ideas. It's seriously so hard to pick a favorite from this list. They're all so beautiful!

1. Ocean Sensory Bottle from Happy Hooligans (pictured)

2. Ocean Discovery Bottle from Little Bins for Little Hands

3. Suspended Ocean Creature Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations (pictured)

4. Glittery Ocean in a Bottle from Simple Everyday Mom

5. Shark Sensory Bottle from Stir the Wonder

6. Mini Aquarium in a Bottle from A Little Pinch of Perfect (pictured)

7. Swimming Turtles Discovery Bottle from Sunny Day Family

8. 2 Ocean Sensory Bottles from The Magnolia Mamas

9. Soothing Sea Shells Sensory Bottle from Rhythms of Play

10. Ocean Sensory Bottle from Happy Toddler Playtime

11. Sandy Ocean Sensory Bottle from Simple Play Ideas

12. Shells & Glitter Sensory Bottle from Keep Calm and Mommy On

Other Ocean Sensory Activities You'll Love

Easy Ocean Sensory Bin

Sand Foam Dough Ocean Sensory Play

Ocean Sensory Bin with Seashell Letters

12+ Fall Sensory Bottles that Are Calming for Kids

How to make fall sensory bottles that are a perfect addition to your child's calm down kit. Or they're great for a quick and easy sensory activity on their own.

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Fall is breathtakingly beautiful. There's the swirling colorful leaves. The crisp cool air. The sound of leaves crunching beneath your feet. The other sounds of fall, like the constant honking of geese flying overhead, which, admittedly, isn't beautiful after a while (can you tell I'm Canadian?!). But seriously, what's not to like about the fall season?

Well, aside from the goose poop and knowing that winter is just weeks away...

Anyway, the point is that fall is simply too short here so we've got to try and cram in as many fall activities (or a fall sensory bin or two) as possible before it's cold and miserable outside. It would be so much easier if we could bottle fall up!

Which is exactly what we're going to do with these gorgeous fall sensory bottles for kids.

These DIY sensory bottle ideas are perfect for a quick mess-free fall sensory activity, a light table activity, or even as a calming strategy. You can add one of these sensory bottles to your child's calm down kit for a couple of weeks or months, just to switch things up.

Useful Materials for Making Your Own Sensory Bottles for Fall

It's really easy to make your own sensory or discovery bottles at home, no matter the season or theme. You simply add some materials to an empty sensory bottle or jar, twist on the lid, and shake it up. 

While you'll find lots of individual sensory bottle instructions below, there are some common materials used. Here are some materials you might need to make a fall inspired sensory bottle:

• A clear plastic bottle - VOSS water bottles are usually the popular choice due to their shape and size. They make excellent DIY sensory bottles.

• Glitter, confetti, and/or sequins in fall colors - Think orange, yellow, gold, copper, brown...Or look for fall leaf shaped confetti

• Natural materials like various colors and shapes of leaves, pine cones, acorns, berries, tree clippings, sticks, etc.

• Fall themed manipulatives such as fabric leaves, beads, or acrylic table scatter (you can usually find leaves, pumpkins, and acorns)

Fall Sensory Bottles for Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, & Beyond!

Are you looking for fall sensory bottles for babies? Or perhaps some autumn inspired calm down bottles for toddlers and preschool might be what you are looking for? Either way, these 10+ ideas should be enough to get you inspired to create your own. 

Some of these ideas use natural elements. And others take inspiration from the colors of fall leaves and use different types of materials like beads, confetti, and glitter. But all are so beautiful to look at and I know you're going to find one you love.

1. Windy Fall Leaf Sensory Bottle from Rhythms of Play (pictured) - With gold glitter and acrylic fall leaves, this bottle perfectly captures a windy fall day. Your little ones will be mesmerized by it.

2. Fall Leaf Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations - If you like to avoid glitter as much as possible (that stuff gets everywhere!), then this sensory bottle is perfect for you. It's similar to the one above. It just doesn't use glitter.

3. Simple Fall Sensory Bottle from The Chaos & the Clutter - I love the combination of leaf confetti and sequins in this bottle. It's so pretty.

4. Acorn Sensory Bottle from Still Playing School (pictured) - Skip the leaves and make an acorn themed sensory bottle instead. This one looks lovely on or off the light table, as you'll see. That shouldn't be surprising though given that most sensory bottle materials are great for light table play as well.

5. Natural Sensory Bottles for Fall from Little Bins for Little Hands - Prefer to use natural items? These sensory bottles use real items from nature including pine cones, acorns, leaves, and tree clippings.

6. Fall Leaves Glitter Sensory Bottle from Simple Everyday Mom - This autumn sensory bottle is gorgeous with all the copper glitter and leaf confetti in it. Your kids are going to love watching all the glitter settle in it!

7. Fall Glitter Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama - There are no leaves or acorns in this one. Instead, it uses big, chunky autumn colored glitter. I like that it's so different from the others on this list.

8. Fall Sunset Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama - This bottle is also really different from the others on this list, using something really unique. Plus, it doubles up as a science activity.

9. Fall Nature I Spy Bottle from Mama. Papa. Bubba. - This I spy bottle uses natural items like berries, leaves, and clippings. The key here though is to take a picture of all the materials first before you add them to the bottle. That way you can turn it into an interactive treasure hunt in a bottle.

10. Fall Sensory Bottle from Teaching Mama (pictured) - A nice and simple sensory bottle using acrylic fall table scatter.

11. 4 Fall Sensory Bottle Ideas from Views from a Step Stool - Learn how to make four simple autumn sensory bottles using materials found at the dollar store. I like the one that uses fall colored beads.

12. Sensory Bottle with Confetti Leaves from Teaching Mama - I like the combination of orange sequins and leaf confetti in this bottle. I bet it's super engaging to watch.

13. Pumpkin, Leaf, & Scarecrow Sensory Bottle Ideas from Fireflies & Mudpies - The scarecrow themed one is extremely unique. I also love the use of leaf stickers on the outside of the bottle for one of the other ideas.

There are so many beautiful ideas above! Which of these fall sensory bottles are you going to try first?

Other Fall Sensory Activities Your Kids Will Love

25 Awesome Fall Sensory Bin Ideas

Easy Fall Sensory Bin

Halloween Sensory Bottles for Kids

Calming Outer Space Sensory Bottles for Kids

Looking for some calming sensory bottles to add to a calm down kit? Try one of these outer space sensory bottles!

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If you have a hyperlexic child, then you likely already know that space and planets are common interests for hyperlexic kids. It's a topic they gravitate to while quite young.

So, if your child (hyperlexic or not) also needs a bit of help with sensory regulation (or you're just looking for a nice quiet time activity to keep them busy), then these outer space sensory bottles might be just what you need.

You'll find lots of ideas below that incorporate stars and galaxy inspired colors, but some incorporate astronauts and planets. So there should be something up your child's alley below. 

This post was updated on May 23rd, 2024. New ideas were added and dead/broken links were removed. Descriptions were also added to make it even easier for you to find the perfect sensory bottle!

Calming Space Sensory Bottles for Kids

Whether your child is passionate about all things outer space or not, these sensory bottles are out of this world (so cliché, I know).

But seriously, these galaxy and space themed sensory bottles are beautiful and engaging, making them a great addition to any calm down kit, regardless of how old your kids are. So let's take a closer look at these ideas.

1. 3 Ingredient Galaxy Calm Down Bottle from Preschool Inspirations (pictured) - I love the darkness of this one combined with the glittery stars floating around. It looks really easy to make.

2. Star Wars Light Saber Sensory Bottle from Little Bins for Little Hands - These sensory bottles are so unique! They're perfect for little Star Wars fans.

3. Rainbow Galaxy Sensory Bottle from Rhythms of Play - You'll need an assortment of different colored glitter glues to make this bottle, but the end result is 100% worth it. It's gorgeous!

4. Solar System Sensory Bottle from Inspiration Laboratories (pictured) - This bottle features floating (or should I say orbiting?) planets, which is really fun.

5. Oil & Water Galaxy Sensory Bottle from Capturing Parenthood - I really love how this one looks when everything settles. Be sure to watch the video of it in action too!

6. Count the Stars Glowing Sensory Bottle from Kids Activities Blog (pictured) - This sensory bottle features glow in the dark mini stars and glow in the dark paint! It looks really cool.

7. Space Travel Sensory Bottle from STEAM Powered Family - I love how this bottle looks like the shuttle and astronaut are floating in space. It's also quite different from the others on this list that focus on making a galaxy. By the way, you can also watch a video of this bottle to see it in action.

8. Space Sensory Bottle from The Chaos & The Clutter - If you're looking for an idea that doesn't use water as the base, then give this one a try. It features black gravel/sand as the filler. This bottle almost acts like an I spy game.

9. Galaxy in a Bottle from Little Passports - I love how these ones look with the cotton balls inside. I also like how they made the lids look more space themed with some tin foil.

10. Galaxy in a Jar from Lemon Lime Adventures - I really like the color of this sensory bottle as it's a nice deep purple. Plus, it looks really simple to make.

11. Galaxy Sensory Bottle from Mom Life and Media - The holographic bottle used for this calm down bottle is SO cool! It really makes the galaxy pop.

There are so many cool outer space sensory bottles on this list to try. Which one are you going to try recreating?