DIY Butterfly Sensory Bottle Calm Down Jar

Tipping this DIY butterfly sensory bottle from top to bottom keeps the colorful rainbow of butterflies in constant motion. This butterfly bottle can be used for no mess safe sensory play, as a calm down tool to help children learn self-regulation skills, a science teaching tool or meditation aid, and, a timeout timer.

For more information about sensory bottles and their uses check out Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101.

How to Make a Butterfly Sensory Bottle Calm Down Jar

This DIY sensory bottle is super easy to make and a lot of fun to play with.

First, gather the butterfly bottle supplies below. Next, follow the step by step sensory bottle DIY directions to make your own butterfly calm down jar.

DIY Butterfly Sensory Bottle Recipe Materials

Recycled water bottle (The bottle pictured is a Voss water bottle, but you can use any bottle from the recycle bin, or a mason jar.)
Goo Gone
Butterflies – or try THESE or THESE butterflies.
Gold glitter (optional)
Clear liquid hand soap
Super Glue

DIY Butterfly Sensory Bottle Recipe with Step by Step Directions

Peel off the sticker on the recycled bottle. Use Goo Gone to remove any sticky residue that remains.
Pour 1/2 cup of tap water into the bottle.
Place 10 – 30 butterflies into the bottle.
Sprinkle in a few shakes of gold glitter. (Start with a small amount, you can always add in more glitter later.)
Fill the bottle up the rest of the way with clear liquid hand soap. You want to fill it all the way to the top so there is no air in it.
Place the lid on the bottle and shake it up.

After you give this butterfly sensory bottle a shake, it may be a bit murky for a few hours until the contents mix and settle. It’s totally normal for calm down bottles with liquid hand soap and water in the recipe to be cloudy for the first 2 – 6 after the first shake.

Once it settles, this sensory bottle DIY will remain clear each time you shake it, or turn upside down. Tip this sensory bottle from top to bottom to watch the butterflies move and fly.

DIY Butterfly Sensory Bottle Tips

Play with this butterfly sensory bottle for a day or two to make sure you like the way it moves. If you want the butterflies to move faster pour some of the liquid out and add more water.

If you want the butterflies to move slower pour some of the liquid out and add more clear liquid hand soap. Want more glitter? Add some more. Easy peasy!

Once you are happy with it glue on the lid with super glue and hand it over to your kids. Unless you’re keeping it for yourself of course. 😉

Butterfly Sensory Bottle Science Lesson

Add in a science lesson on viscosity both while making this bottle and by comparing how quickly the butterflies fly to the bottom of the butterfly bottle with how slowly the glitter falls.

The glitter will stay suspended while the butterflies will slowly drop. After a few hours, the glitter will slowly find the way to the bottom of the butterfly bottle as well.

Ask your kids why they think the butterflies sink faster than the glitter does. Do your best to allow them to discover the solution themselves instead of telling or explaining why.

Calm Down Sensory Bottles

DIY Calm down sensory bottles can be used as a science teaching aid, a timeout tool, and to help an anxious child (or adult) calm down and unwind.

Calm down bottles like this butterfly bottle also an easy way for babies and toddlers to safely investigate items, without the risk of choking on them.

To learn more about sensory bottles, their uses, how to make them, and troubleshooting tips check out Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101.

For more fun ideas check out DIY Projects for Do it Yourself Families!

Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!

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Nell Regan M.A.

Nell has over 20 years of experience working with children and is the founder of Rhythms of Play. She believes in the wonder of childhood, the power of the imagination, learning through play, and getting outside in all seasons! Learn more…

Comments

Katherine Cummings says
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What type of butterflies
- nell says
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  Hi Katherine, I’m sorry I missed your comment!
  We used the butterflies listed in the sensory bottle supply section. 🙂
Cheryl says
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Do you happen to know the brand of clear liquid hand soap you used? I’ve used baby oil and water but see where the hand soap would keep things suspended for a longer time.
- nell says
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  Hi Cheryl, I use softsoap and it works great!
Eva says
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Can you use dish liquid soap?
- nell says
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  Yes, but you will need to use more dish soap and less water 🙂
Debbie says
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Do you glue the lid down after you are satisfied with the bottle and the contents are no longer murky?? Thanks!
- nell says
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  Hi Debbie! Yes, after you are happy with the content and how it moves it is time to glue it shut. You can also add duck tape around it to make it extra secure. The lids can break if there are twisted after they are glued shut. 🙂
Gail says
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Would glycerin work in place of the hand soap?
- nell says
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  Hi Gail, great question!
  No, glycerin will not work in place of hand soap. The butterflies would sink quickly to the bottom if you used glycerine. Glycerin is great for helping the glitter in sensory bottles swirl but is not viscous enough to help the butterflies float, swirl and fly slowly. Hand soap helps add viscosity to the water so the butterflies can gently fly around the sensory bottle. 🙂

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