Sensory Bottles
Type of bottles:
Bottles that you can use include Plastic or glass water bottles (use caution with glass), Larger plastic juice bottles, empty spice containers.
Common items to add to a sensory bottle include:
- water
- combination of warm water and clear glue
- hair gel
- hand sanitizer or liquid soap
- water beadsand water
- corn syrup
- baby oil
- cooking oil
- shampoo
- dry rice
- dry beans
- coconut
- Epsom salt
- Sand
After adding the “liquid” or “Filler” items to your bottle then it is possible to add other items to add interest. These will float around, spin around and get lost in the substance already in the bottle and create the exploration and creativity to the bottle.
Common added items are:
- small toys
- glitter
- confetti
- sequins
- beads
- Rainbow Loom elastics
- plastic animals
- googly eyes
- pompoms
- mini erasers
- buttons
- marbles
- LEGO
- ribbon
- rocks
- shells
- items found on a nature hike or beach walk
After these items are added it is in the best interest of everyone to hot glue your bottle shut or use gorilla glue. Even these can come loose so please use caution with using the bottles and keep an eye on them.
Sensory bins
The main thing you need is a plastic tub of some kind. An under the bed tub or plastic toy bin work well. Even an empty ice cream pail or box can be used.
You can then add a filler and a few items. Be creative. Consider textures, smells, sounds, and other sensory elements such as changes in temperature. Bins are set up just as a bottle but liquid items are not recommended inside the bins.
Common items to add to a sensory bin include:
- dry rice (you can even dye it)
- dry beans
- coconut
- Epsom salt
- Sand
- Wood bedding
- Feathers
- Rocks
- Beads
- Water beads
- Pasta (you can even dye it)
- Flowers
- Dirt
- Cotton balls/pom poms
- Corn
- Packing peanuts
- Coffee beans
Sensory Bin tools:
- Spoons
- Small shovels
- Measuring cups
- Mini tongs
- Funnels
- Tweezers
- Magnifying glass
- Pvc tubes
- Cookie cutters
- Cups
- Paint brushes
Items to add to the bins:
- small toys
- glitter
- confetti
- sequins
- beads
- Rainbow Loom elastics
- plastic animals
- googly eyes
- pompoms
- mini erasers
- buttons
- marbles
- LEGO
- ribbon
- rocks
- shells
- items found on a nature hike or beach walk
