So you've purchased one of our Jellystone DIY Calm Down Bottles and you need some pointers on how to create an amazing sensory tool. Well, check out this blog post where we'll give you some great tips and tricks!
You should have received an instruction manual in your bottle so you'll know the basics; remove the silicone ends, empty the packet of crafts into the bottle, fill with warm water, secure the lid, pop the silicone ends back and you're good to go.
Now for the added flair! Here is a list of fantastic ideas to make your Calm Down Bottle extra special:
TIP #1
Try using some Elmer's Glow in the Dark Glue which you can get from any Officeworks, Kmart, Big W or Woolworths. Use around half the bottle of glue and mix with your glitter contents to create your very glow stick! Perfect for helping little ones who are afraid of the dark. Check out this one out by @grow.and.play.together
TIP #2
Pop in a couple of fresh flowers inside. It's the perfect combination of nature play and sensory play! Check out this one from @thewondersofplay
Do a treasure hunt around the garden for flowers, leaves and other little bits and pieces that they can add to the calm down bottle. It's perfect combination of nature and sensory play, and works especially well in Autumn and Spring! If you want to see our treasure hunt in action, click here
TIP #3
Create a theme for your calm down bottle! Some ideas are nature, underwater, floral and rainbow. @these_playfuldays used an ocean theme for their blue calm down bottle:
TIP #4
Pop some water beads in your calm down bottle! Look at the brilliant colours in these bottles from @beautifullittlesoulsblog, @miles.and.noah and @grow.and.play.together. If you are interested in ordering water marbles, our friends at Huckleberry Store sell them on their online store!
TIP #5
Try using dry ingredients like rice, grain and sand. Add some fun toys and the kids will love watching them make their way through the bottle! See this fabulous calm down bottle creation from @miles.and.noah
TIP #6
Help your little ones learn about all things nature! By adding some dyed grains, insect figurines and fresh flowers to your bottle, you can create your very own ecosystem like the one @seaofashe has created here!
And check out this bee-themed one by @play.learn.flourish. They used coloured rice, felt balls and some insect figurines.
This beautiful nature-themed bottle is filled with yellow sequins and little bee figurines!
TIP #7
To celebrate space week, @our.tiny.moments created this fabulous galaxy-themed bottle! All you need are cotton balls, glitter and paint. Start by filling 1/4 of the bottle with water, then add some liquid paint to the water. Stir, add glitter and then push some cotton balls into the water. Keep adding different layers of paint and glitter to the bottle until near the top. Add the lid and secure firmly.
TIP #8
Create your own lava lamp! Simply place oil, water and food colouring into a bottle. Add some broken up alka seltzer tablets and watch the magic happen! We love this one from @homewithharlow
And this one is by @baby_burrito_play.
TIP #9
If you have a newborn, try adding black and white, high contrast objects to the calm down bottle. Research has shown that the retina of a newborn baby isn’t fully developed and that simple, high contrast, black and white objects are a great way to help develop their eyesight and encourage focus. Check out this one from @one.busy.mumma
TIP #10
We love seeing our calm down bottles all lit up! You can add some small fairy lights or light up cubes (we love Glopals) to the bottle to create a light tube. Check out this one from @our.everyday.learning.space
And we definitely recommend trying our the bottle with Glopals too!
TIP #11
Don't want your old water beads to go to waste? Well you don't have to! Use your old water beads to create your own lava lamp bottle. When the light hits the oil and broken beads, it throws off this awesome lava lamp like effect where oil rises and falls between the colour. Check out this one from @miles.and.noah
TIP #12
Is your child into Pokémon? Or maybe Bakugan? Create your own themed bottle like @grow.and.play.together below and fill it with your child's favourite characters!
TIP #13
Add little Lego pieces to the bottle! They add a pop of colour and are great things for kids to focus on as they shake the bottle. Check out @instahenri fantastic Lego bottle here:
TIP #14
Will you be my Valentine? Refresh your bottle with little red crafts (things like hearts, red sequins, red pipecleaners, red glitter) to give it a Valentine's theme. We love this one from @a.mellow.mumma
TIP #15
If you want to make your calm down bottle a little more Christmassy, we have just the thing. Why not add a bit of crimson bottlebrush and some rosemary so you can get those lovely bright red and green colours to pop? You can even try it out in one of our limited edition Christmas Bottles to complete the Christmas theme!
