Halloween Calm Down Bottles Tutorial

In this BLOG post I will teach you how to make calm down bottles and the benefits of using them at home.

Head to our Instagram page to see more ways to practice self-regulation strategies at home or in the classroom! We love to see you play & share the joy of hands-on crafts & activities at home. Be sure to tag @aplayfilledlife on Instagram or Facebook if you try any of our ideas!!

XO Gina

What is a Calm Down Bottle?

 A calm down bottle is my favorite tool to keep in my teacher & mama toolbox! It is a sealed, plastic bottle filled with glitter, glue & water that promotes mindfulness in children and adults. They can help bring you from a state of dysregulation to a state of regulation.

Mindfulness is when we pay attention to how we are feeling, in regard to our senses. Being mindful means, you are recognizing how you are feeling or how your body is reacting to things around you. Is your heart beating fast? Are your palms sweaty? Does your belly feel funny? Are your teeth clenched or are your cheeks red? Each of our bodies are going to react differently to our emotions.

Mindfulness is understanding what is going on in your brain. Are your thoughts racing? Are you thinking happy thoughts or sad thoughts? Mindfulness can help you process and handle big emotions.

When you practice mindfulness with tools like a calm down bottle, you learn to put space between yourself and emotions such as sadness, anger & disappointment. This doesn't mean you ignore or escape those emotions! It brings you to a place of calm where you can do just that!!! We can't properly process our emotions or brainstorm strategies/solutions when we are in a heightened sense of emotion.

How do they work for self-regulation?

The general gist is that when you focus in on the calm down bottle, you are shifting focus away from the big emotions that you are feeling. You are putting that space between yourself and the emotion you are feeling. Again, you are not ignoring them! It means that you are calming your body & breathing to a point where you are able to be receptive & present so that you can label, identify & process your emotions.

The glitter drifting down can be calming or exciting or a welcome distraction for a few moments.

What are the benefits of using a calm down bottle?

Using a calm down bottle promotes healthy social-emotional health. They can be used as a calming tool to teach self-regulation. They can help a child (or adult!) to identify & manage their feelings, focus on deep breathing & release big emotions. Using a calm down bottle can be an effective tool when modeled, taught & reinforced properly!

Calm down bottles support those with sensory sensitivities; they provide both visual & tactile stimulation.  It is a mess-free way of engaging with colors, textures, shapes & reflections.

Calm down bottles can also be used as a timer. "Shake your calm down bottle! When the glitter reaches the bottom, it will be time to leave for school!"

Using a calm down bottle as a mindfulness tool has also been known to decrease stress, increase focus & improve academic success.

Materials:

• Plastic bottle with lid

• Warm water

• Clear glue

• Glitter

• Hot glue gun (optional)

• Halloween trinkets (spiders, eyeballs, bones etc!)

How-to create the bottle:

1. Using clear glue, or glitter glue if you have it, fill the bottle 1/4 of the way.

2. If you used clear glue, add in your glitter now! You can use themed glitter or glue in your little one’s favorite color! 

3. Fill the rest of the bottle with warm water.

4. If adding trinkets, add them now!

5. Seal your bottle back up and shake well! If your bottle is not self-sealing or leaks once you put the top on it, add a little bit of hot glue to the rim of the bottle & twist shut.

6. My daughter wanted to add on felt pieces and googley eyes so we got glued them-this part is totally optional!

Calm Down Bottle filler options:

• Glitter (the finer the glitter, the slower it will fall)

• Glow in the dark glitter

• Small buttons

• Pom Poms

• Beads

• Gems

• Plastic letters or numbers

• Sequins

APFL Tip for making a slow-moving calm down bottle:

• Use a fine glitter. The finer the glitter, the slower it will fall.

• Add more glue: try a 50/50 ratio to slow down the glitter.

Calm Down Bottle Considerations:

• You get to decide what is safe & manageable in your home. Always monitor young children during use.

• Always use a plastic jar to prevent it breaking.

• This mixture cannot be ingested. Secure the lid by putting hot glue around the rim.

• Check the bottle frequently for cracks or leaks.

Other ways to practice mindfulness at home or in the classroom:

• Deep breathing practice with a pinwheel.

• Deep breathing practice with a visual (FREE download).

• Create a calm down corner (Check out our Calm Down Kit PDF).

• Practice YOGA.

• Listen to music.

• Blow bubbles.

• Sensory play.

• Get outside in nature.