The Best Glitter Valentine’s Day Sensory Bottle

Jump to recipe

Sensory bottles are a great sensory activity for babies and a calming tool for toddlers and kids. Make this Valentine’s Day bottle to celebrate Valentine’s Day

When using sensory bottles, like this Valentine’s Day Sensory Bottle, it’s essential to ensure that the materials inside are safe and age-appropriate for your baby. Always supervise playtime and choose items that are securely sealed to prevent any choking hazards. Additionally, sensory play should be a positive and enjoyable experience for the baby, so it’s crucial to observe their reactions and adjust the playtime accordingly.

Valentine’s Day Sensory Bottle A Calming Effect

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• Clear plastic bottle (preferably with a flat top – We have these sensory bottles from Amazon or you get a Voss bottle at your local grocery store)
• Orange food coloring (available on Amazon)
• Red confetti or small confetti
• Red or Pink Glitter
• Clear Elmer’s Glue

Sensory Teacher Tip: The trick to making a perfect Valentine’s Day Sensory bottle using what you already have is to use a mixture of fine glitter with a bigger element such as foil confetti or sequences. Use a mixture of two colors as well.

Steps to make Valentine’s Day Sensory Bottle:

1. If you purchased the VASS bottle, dump (or drink) a little bit of the water leaving about 2/3 full.
2. Add a few drops drop of red food coloring. Be gentle with the drops because if you add too many the water will become too dark and then you won’t see the glitter and confetti later on.
3. Add about 1 Tablespoon of glitter to the bottle. I often try to match the color of the glitter to the food coloring I am using.
4. Add confetti to add a variation of fast glitter falling and slow glitter. It makes it cool to see!
5. Close the bottle and shake it.
6. Add clear glue: I fill up the remainder of the bottle with clear glue. Leave some room for air. The more glue the bottle has the slower the glitter will fall.

Benefits of using Sensory Bottles for Baby Play

Sensory bottles, also known as discovery bottles or calm-down bottles, can offer several benefits for baby play and development. Here are some of the advantages:

1. Visual Stimulation: Sensory bottles often contain colorful and visually engaging materials. Babies are naturally attracted to bright colors and different shapes, which can help stimulate their visual senses and promote visual tracking.
2. Auditory Stimulation: Some sensory bottles include elements that make gentle sounds, such as beads or small objects moving within the bottle. This can help babies develop their auditory senses and foster an early appreciation for different sounds.
3. Tactile Exploration: Babies explore the world around them through touch. Sensory bottles filled with various textures, such as water beads, rice, or soft fabric, provide a tactile experience that can enhance sensory awareness and promote tactile exploration.
4. Focus and Concentration: Watching the materials inside a sensory bottle move or settle can capture a baby’s attention and encourage focus. This can be particularly helpful for babies who may have difficulty concentrating on a single activity for an extended period.
5. Calming Effect: The slow movement of materials within the bottle and the visual appeal can have a calming effect on babies. Sensory bottles are often used as a tool for helping babies self-regulate their emotions and provide a soothing experience.
6. Fine Motor Skills: Manipulating and shaking sensory bottles can contribute to the development of fine motor skills. Grasping the bottle, shaking it, and observing the contents inside involve various hand and finger movements that promote motor skill development.
7. Language Development: Sensory bottles can serve as conversation starters. Talking to your baby about the colors, shapes, and movements inside the bottle can help with language development by introducing new words and concepts.
8. Independent Play: Sensory bottles are a simple and safe toy that babies can explore independently. Allowing babies to play with sensory bottles on their own encourages a sense of independence and exploration.