Here at Vivvi, we’re always on the lookout for simple, meaningful activities that can keep little ones engaged, especially when the weather turns chilly. One activity we use often at Vivvi that works across all ages — from infants to preschoolers — is sensory bottles. They’re easy to make, fun to play with, and can double as a calming tool when things get a little too chaotic.
Sensory bottles are also a great way to sneak in some play-based learning! They enable infants to develop visual tracking skills while they watch objects move inside the bottle. Toddlers love shaking the bottles and discovering what happens next, while preschoolers can describe what they see, asking questions and making connections. Sensory bottles are also an easy, indoor activity, and you can make them with your child using things you already have at home.
Here are 5 sensory bottle ideas you can try with your little ones:
Sensory Bottle Ideas
What you need: an empty water bottle; vegetable oil; water; food coloring of your choice; Alka-seltzer tablets
How to Helps Children to Learn: This sensory bottle engages children’s visual senses with colorful “lava” movement while introducing basic science concepts like density.
What you need: Liquid watercolors; Primary Candy Dye Color Set; Mineral Oil; Clear Corn Syrup; Clean small water bottle; 2 Funnels OR mixing containers with spouts (one for the oil and one for the corn syrup); Spatula
How to Helps Children to Learn: This sensory bottle engages children’s visual senses with colorful “lava” movement while introducing basic science concepts like density.
What you need: Empty, clean and dry plastic bottles; Your choice of filler material (ex: dyed dry rice in various colors, lentils or mini alphabet beads); Mini toys; cars/ dinosaurs/ butterflies/ bugs/ ladybirds/ flowers/ leaves; Wooden/plastic alphabet letter set
How to Helps Children to Learn: Work on focus and observation as children search for hidden objects, promoting cognitive and language development.
What you need: Empty Water Bottle; Cotton Wool Balls; Acrylic Paint; Fine Glitter; Water
How to Helps Children to Learn: Introduce space concepts with swirling galaxy-like patterns, encouraging imagination and focus.
What you need: Empty, clean and dry plastic bottles; water; Fall decor or nature elements like leaves or acorns
How to Helps Children to Learn: Capture the beauty of autumn with leaves, acorns, and warm colors, sparking creativity and conversations about the changing seasons.
Vivvi provides child care and early learning for children ages 0-5, with unrivaled flexibility that works for today’s families. Our inquiry-based curriculum is facilitated by warm, experienced teachers in bright, open spaces that let children make big connections to the growing world around them. Find your nearest Vivvi here.