This calming DIY Sea shells sensory bottle can help children (and adults) learn to self-regulate. The gentle motion of the falling seashells can relieve anxiety as the shells slowly swirl and float around in the bottle. Make your own soothing sea shells sensory bottle today!
Sooth your children worries with this easy homemade sensory bottle.
Related: The Best DIY Sensory Bottles for Every Holiday and Season
Related: Glittering Mermaid Tail Sensory Bottle
How to Make a Soothing Seashell Sensory Bottle
A seashell discovery bottles is also great for no mess safe sensory play. This soothing sea shell sensory bottle is a simple way to allow babies and toddlers to investigate shells without the risk of choking on them.
For more information about sensory bottles and their uses check out Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101.
Slow Falling Sea Shells DIY Calm Down Jar Materials
- Water bottle (Any bottle from the recycle bin will do!)
- Goo Gone
- Seashells (There is enough to make this bottle and a few of these shell flowers and/or shell handprint keepsakes.
- Water
- Blue food coloring
or liquid watercolor paint.
- Liquid hand soap
- Super Glue
Related: Nature-Inspired Sensory Bottles
Homemade Seashell Discovery Bottle Step by Step Directions
- Grab a bottle from the recycle bin.
- Clean the recycled bottle and peel off sticker. Use Goo Gone
if you need to remove sticky residue.
- Clean, soak and rinse 1/3 – 1/2 cup of seashells so there are no broken shell pieces or other particles remaining. Dirty shells make dirty sensory bottles!
- Place seashells into the recycled bottle to create your soothing sea shell discovery bottle.
- Pour 1/4 – 1/2 cup of tap water into the bottle.
- Place a couple drops of blue food coloring or liquid watercolor into the bottle and give it a gentle shake.
- Fill the bottle most of the way up with clear liquid hand soap
. Leave a bit of room in it until you see if you like how fast the shells move. Check out our tips in the next section!
- Place the lid on your soothing sea shell sensory bottle and shake it up. It will be a bit murky for a few hours until the contents mix and settle.
Related: Slow Falling Hearts Sensory Bottle
Seashell Sensory Bottle Tips
Play with your seashells sensory bottle for a day or two to make sure you like the way it moves. If you want the shells to move a little faster add a bit more water. If you want them to move slower add a little more clear liquid hand soap.
When you are happy with the way your shell calm down jar moves, fill it all the way up with water or liquid hand soap so there is no air in it.
Glue the lid on your seashell discovery bottle and hand it over to your kids. Unless you’re keeping it for yourself of course. 😉
Related: Rainstick Musical Sensory Bottle
Soothing Sea Shell Sensory Bottle Calm Down Jar for Kids (and adults)
Sensory bottles like this slow falling sea shells sensory bottle can be used to help soothe a child when they feel overwhelmed. Even an anxious adult can benefit from the soothing quality of this seashell sensory bottle.
Discovery bottles are also great for no mess safe sensory play. They are the perfect way for babies and toddlers to safely investigate small objects like shells without the risk of choking on them.
For more information about sensory bottles, their uses, how to make them, and troubleshooting tips check out Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101.
More DIY Calm Down Jars
- Best DIY Sensory Bottles for Every Holiday and Season
- Butterfly Sensory Bottle
- Nature-Inspired Sensory Bottles
- Red, White, and Blue Stars Sensory Bottle
- Vegetable Garden Discovery Bottle | Sunny Day Family
- Desert Flower Discovery Bottle | Preschool Inspirations
- Simple Spring Nature Sensory Bottles | Lemon Lime Adventures
- Calming Nature Sensory Bottle | Sugar Aunts
- Spring Backyard Nature Discovery Bottle | Little Bins For Little Hands
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Why did you use hand soap in this instead of glue?
Good question Hannah! Glue is generally used in glitter bottles to help the glue suspend and swirl. For other bottles with heavier pieces like this, you can use either clear hand soap, or clear dishwashing soap to make the water more viscous to slow the shells down. Clear hand soap is thicker so you will need to balance it with water, while dishwashing soap will need less water if any. I hope that makes sense. Feel free to use the contact button above if you need any more help 🙂
I’m thinking of doing this activity at a party that is only 3 hours long, so I don’t want this beautiful craft to be murky during the party. Can you mix the water and soap ahead of time for 10 children and then let them pour the mixture into their bottles all at once?
In my mind’s eye, it sounds possible. Just make sure you fill each bottle up to the top before you put the cap on and it just might work. Let me know how it goes!