DIY calming jar

DIY Calming Jar - An easy glitter sensory container for kids or adults!

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We are preparing for potty training (may the Force be with us), and in the book we are using the author suggests using a calming jar. Apparently many children learning to go No. 2 in the potty get poop anxiety. Think stage fright + a whole new sensation and new life skill. It makes sense.

So I decided to make Memphis a calming jar.

DIY Calming Jar for kids - Yoga Mama Bear

Google informed me that there are about a thousand different ways to do this. I chose to use water and glycerin because I had glycerin. Then it didn’t work quite right so I had to trouble shoot and I’m pleased with the end result. Here’s how I did it:

DIY Glitter Calming Jar

INGREDIENTS:

  • Plastic container (I used this but you can use almost anything)

  • Food coloring

  • Fine glitter

  • Chunky glitter (optional)

  • Glycerin

  • Hot water

  • Dish soap

DIRECTIONS

Fill your plastic container 1/3 full with glycerin. I got my sensory container at Michael’s — they’re doing curbside pickup!

Add 3 drops of food coloring.

Add glitter. The more, the merrier.

Fill container almost to the top with hot water.

Add a small amount—one gentle squeeze, if you need to be official—of dish soap.

Put your lid on the container and shake it until it’s all mixed together.

DIY Calming Jar for kids using glycerin
DIY Calming Jar for kids
DIY Calming Jar for kids


At first I didn’t use the dish soap but my glitter was all gathering at the top instead of stirring around like it’s supposed to. The dish soap solved it!

DIY Calming Jar for kids

Whether or not this helps with the No. 2 situation is TBD as we haven’t started potty training yet. But Memphis did fall down shortly after I made this. He started crying, so I picked him up and handed him his calming jar. It worked like a charm! He was captivated by the swirling glitter and within seconds he was chill.

Woohoo!

To be honest, I’m into this thing too. It’s great for centering. I plan on pulling this out when I’m feeling overwhelmed, which during this whole pandemic situation is more frequent than usual. Sparkles may not cure coronavirus anxiety, but they can’t hurt.