‘Sensory Bottles’ Will Soothe And Distract Kids While You Catch A Break
Pandemic boredom-busters for kids staying at home running low? If your little ones have started annoying family pets or keep re-enacting their favourite episodes of “Peppa Pig,” it might be worth giving them a creative outlet for their restless hands.
Sensory toys like fidget spinners have proven to be great sources of entertainment and soothing for many neurodivergent children, which include kids with sensory processing needs. Luckily, no online orders of non-essential packages are needed to make one of the most eye-grabbing toys out there. Resourceful parents have figured out that all it takes are empty water bottles and knick-knacks to craft “sensory bottles” that are fun for all ages.
A post shared by The Wen Family Crafts (@renandrose) on Apr 3, 2020 at 4:36am PDT
Parenting site Romper says that babies will love the eye-catching movements that happen when they shake their bottles, while kids dealing with overwhelming emotions may appreciate focusing on the toy in order to calm down. With a pandemic on everyone’s minds all the time, they’d likely appreciate the distraction.
What goes into a sensory bottle
Many sensory bottle recipes call for water and oil to produce fun visual effects with the knick-knacks that swim in the (tightly sealed!) bottle. Food colouring is often used to create vivid visuals, with some families making spring- and Easter-themed toys.
A post shared by Florence Amelia (@floha29) on Apr 8, 2020 at 2:38am PDT
Anything colourful or pretty to look at can go into the bottles. Pom-poms and glitter are fan favourites, but office supplies are just as good.
A post shared by @bastel.mama.diy on Mar 31, 2020 at 8:11am PDT
A post shared by Febriani Ainurrohmah (@febrimpeb) on Mar 25, 2020 at 8:12pm PDT
One creative mom used cotton balls and glue to make dreamy clouds in her kid’s bottle.