Sensory bottles for kids are an incredible tool! As a former preschool teacher, I found them to be one of the most versatile items in my entire classroom. They invite you to touch them, roll them, and explore them. Some sensory bottles are great learning activities and encourage exploration and open-ended questions.
Other sensory bottles help with sensory input and contain items that mesmerize or even provide heavy lifting opportunities. There are also sensory bottles that invite investigation and provide safe ways for young children to observe objects. Learn about even more ways to use them in this post on the what, why, and how of sensory bottles.
Here are some of the most spectacular sensory bottles with practical ways to use them for learning, sensory input, and play.
Totally awesome sensory bottles for kids to enjoy.
Use a sensory bottle to relax, take deep breaths, or just be dazzled
Calm Down Jar | Lemon Lime Adventures
6 Ways to Make a Calm Down Jar | Preschool Inspirations
Explore the exciting properties of STEAM in a bottle
Rust Resistant Magnetic Discovery Bottle | Preschool Inspirations
STEAM Camp: How to Make a Magnetic Field Sensory Bottle | Left Brain Craft Brain
Learn and talk about the ocean and sea creatures
Suspended Ocean Creature Discovery Bottle | Preschool Inspirations
Baby Play Ideas: Sea in a Bottle for Crawling and Sitting Bubs | Childhood101
Ocean in a Bottle with 3 Simple Ingredients | Happy Hooligans
Make an extension of your favorite book
Put Your Favorite Children’s Book in a Bottle | Teach Preschool
LMNO Peas Alphabet Discovery Bottle | Pre-K Pages
Get a glimpse of faraway galaxies
Galaxy in a Jar | Lemon Lime Adventures
Night Sky Activities for Preschool: Night and Day Sensory Sorting | Twodaloo
Talk about the Earth
Earth Day Discovery Bottle | Teach Preschool
Earth Day Discovery Bottle Earth Science Activity | Little Bins for Little Hands
Learn about the different types of weather
Make a Hurricane in a Jar | One Time Through
Weather Discovery Bottles for Circle Time | Twodaloo
Invite little ones to safely explore small objects
Rainbow Savenger Hunt and Rainbow Discovery Bottles | Fun at Home with Kids
Suspended Beads Dollar Tree Discovery Bottle | Fun at Home with Kids
Learn about the alphabet
Alphabet Discovery Bottle | Preschool Inspirations
Beaded Names Discovery Bottle | Stay at Home Educator
Letter Beads Discovery Bottles | Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds
I Spy Letter Hunt | Gift of Curiosity
Encourage heavy lifting and proprioceptive input
Weighted Sensory Bottles | Play to Learn Preschool
Magic Two Ingredient Sensory Bottle | Preschool Inspirations
Explore with color and light
Rainbow Discovery Bottles | Play to Learn Preschool
How to Make a Color and Light Discovery Bottle | Left Brain Craft Brain
Rainbow Discovery Bottle | Preschool Inspirations
Talk through emotions and feelings with a little one
How to Make a Magic Sparkles Calming Jar | One Time Through
Emotions Discovery Bottle Inspired by Disney’s Inside Out | Lalymom
Learn about the mysteries of science
Sensory Bottles: Experimenting with Viscosity | Lemon Lime Adventures
Sensory Bottles: Experimenting with Absorption | Lemon Lime Adventures
Use creativity and make items that glow in the dark
Glowing Sensory Bottle for Bedtime | Kids Activities Blog
Halloween Sensory for Babies: Discovery Bottles | Fun at Home with Kids
Sensory bottles and discovery bottles have endless opportunities for discovery and exploration!
Katie T. Christiansen is the writer behind Preschool Inspirations and mom to three precious kiddos. She is a former preschool administrator and teacher turned to homeschool mama. She is admittedly addicted to making new and tantalizing discovery bottles, for her kids and even herself. Find more about Katie’s explorations on her blog, facebook, or pinterest.
Great list! Now that we have a few Voss water bottles, we’re trying to rotate the fun stuff in them. This is my new shopping list 🙂
Thank you for including the LMNO Peas Sensory Bottle by Still Playing School for Pre-K Pages 🙂
These bottles would equal an instant meltdown for my son, even though they look super awesome! You have to glue the lid on and it would drive him crazy that he can’t take it apart and get at the stuff inside. Do you have any ideas on what would work to help him calm a bit but something that is “safe” to play with. He loves taking stuff apart and putting it back together.
How old is your son? I have a few ideas depending on age.
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Very interesting.
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This is a wonderful sensory activity idea that can be adapted for people living with dementia.
Where can I find Voss water bottles in Canada?
Clear water bottles work great. I’ve never seen plastic voss bottles in Canada and to order them online I found expensive….
Anyone know where I can buy these bottles? I’ve looked everywhere!
Anyone have a suggestion for how to easily get the label and glue off the bottles?
We actually love lemon essential oil.
The Voss water bottle.labels peeloff easily. Other then that Goo
gone.works great for labels.