Use this simple pumpkin sensory bottle DIY tutorial to make a Jack o’ Lantern Halloween sensory bottle for kids. Use it as a glowing Halloween decoration, and, as a clam down tool for an anxious child on Halloween. This fun pumpkin craft and DIY toy for kids doubles as a cool, cute, friendly, or spooky DIY Halloween decoration idea!
Learn how to make a pumpkin sensory bottle with a friendly (or spooky) Jack o’ lantern face, with this fun Halloween sensory bottle DIY!
My daughter has always had a strange obsession with Pumpkins and Jack o’ lanterns since the first day that she ever set eyes on them. I can remember her chirping happily pointing from her baby carrier on our daily walks.
She cried miserably once they disappeared from stoops and front porches, and was terribly disappointed when mummy could not make them magically re-appear. Now she can enjoy pumpkin sensory play with her glowing jack o’ lantern Halloween calm down jar all year long!!
Related: Ghost Sensory Bottle
Related: Halloween Art Projects Kids LOVE!
Glowing Jack o’ Lantern Halloween Sensory Bottle
Children are sure to love this pumpkin sensory play idea. A friendly calm down bottle like this glowing Jack o’ Lantern Halloween sensory bottle is perfect for children that get easily scared, overwhelmed or anxious on Halloween night.
For more information about calm down sensory bottles and their uses check out Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101.
Halloween pumpkin sensory bottles can also be used as cool glowing DIY Halloween decorations.
Unfortunately, glow in the dark loom bands do not glow brightly or last long without an external source of light. They can be ‘charged’ by placing them in the sun or under a light.
To make glow in the dark loom bands
glow a little brighter, pop an orange glow stick in with them on Halloween night or use a black light
to give your Halloween Jack o’ lantern decoration even more glowing power!
Halloween Pumpkin Sensory Bottle Craft Materials
- Recycled bottle or mason jar
(Most bottles from the recycle bin can work!) - Goo Gone
- Glow in the dark orange loom bands (Or, try THESE or THESE)
- Water
- Permanent marker
- Superglue
- Orange glow stick (optional)
- Blacklight flashlight (optional)
(Most bottles from the recycle bin can work!)
or 
The photo on the left was taken in daylight while the photo on the right was taken with a black light flashlight pointed at it.
Related: Halloween Pumpkin Salt Painting
How to Make a Glow in the Dark Halloween Sensory Bottle
Step 1 – Clean and remove the label on the bottle (if needed)
Peel off the sticker on the bottle if there is one. Use Goo Gone
to remove the remaining sticky residue if needed.
Step 2 – Add orange glow in the dark loom bands to pumpkin sensory bottle
Drop orange glow in the dark loom bands into the recycled bottle that you are using. At first, we used only about half of the orange loom bands in this set.
After playing with our friendly Jack o’ lantern sensory bottle for a bit, we discovered that this loom band bottle works best with lots of orange looms in it so we ended up using all of them to make our glowing Halloween sensory bottle.
Step 3 – Add water to Halloween sensory bottle
Next, add water to your glow in the dark jack o’ lantern Halloween sensory bottle, but don’t fill it all the way up just yet. Make sure you like how many loom bands that you have in it. Need more? Add more!
Step 5 – Top the Jack o’ lantern sensory bottle up with water
Once you are happy with the number of loom bands in it, top the pumpkin sensory bottle off with water. The idea is to fill the pumpkin calm down jar all the way up so that there is no air remaining at the top.
Step 6 – Place the lid on Halloween pumpkin calm down jar
Put the lid onto the Halloween pumpkin sensory bottle, but don’t glue it shut. Leave it unglued to make it possible to add or remove loom bands as needed.
Step 7 – Draw jack o’ lantern face on Halloween pumpkin sensory bottle
Have fun with this last step.
Draw any type of pumpkin face onto the Jack o’ lantern calm down jar with a permanent ink pen
. We drew a friendly Halloween pumpkin face, but a scary face would be just as much fun.
I would not recommend creating a pumpkin sensory bottle with a scary face or giving one to a young child.
Halloween pumpkin jars with scary faces would not make a good sensory bottle or self-regulation tool for an anxious child, but would make a fun Halloween lantern DIY idea!
Related: Healthy Treats and Fun Alternatives for Halloween
Jack o Lantern Calm Down Jar Tips
Play with your glow in the dark loom band sensory bottle for a few days before you glue the lid on. You may find that you want to add or remove some loom bands.
Don’t glue it shut if you know you would like to put an orange glow stick in it at some point. When the lid is not glued on, it is possible to remove and replace a glow stick as desired.
Hop over to have a look at DIY Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101 For everything you need to know about calm down jars and their uses.
Related: Rainstick Musical Sensory Bottle
Related: Gorgeous Glowing Halloween Lanterns
Glowing Jack o’Lantern Halloween Sensory Bottle DIY
A Halloween sensory bottle with a friendly face can make a great calm down tool for an overwhelmed child on Halloween night.
Glow in the dark Jack o lantern sensory bottles also make cool DIY Halloween decorations! Be sure to have a look at this Glowing Ghost discovery bottle, tutorial as well. It also makes a fun Halloween luminary.
To learn more about sensory bottles, their uses, how to make them, and troubleshooting tips check out Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101.
You may also like this collection of Halloween Art Projects that Kids LOVE!
For another fun glow in the dark toys check out this awesome ringer game.
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!
If You Liked This Pumpkin Sensory Bottle You may also like:
- Tissue Paper Ghost Craft
- Fall Bucket List for the Best Autumn EVER!
- Healthy Treats and Fun Alternatives to Handout for Halloween
- Halloween Pumpkin Salt Painting
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Nell has over 20 years of experience working with children and is the founder of Rhythms of Play. She believes in the power of the imagination, learning through play, making this world a greener place to live, and getting outside in all seasons! Learn more…
[…] to keep the kids calm on Halloween night when all the ghost and goblins come out to play, try a glowing jack o’ lantern sensory bottle! You may also like this collection of Halloween art projects that children […]