How to Make a Calming Glitter Jar

Glitter Jars are a super simple and fun activity to do with children. With just a handful of ingredients, you can make a glitter jar and enjoy a mindful moment of stillness and peace in a matter of seconds.

What do you need?

• An empty jar or bottle

• Warm to hot tap water - not boiling water!

• Extra fine glitter

• Chunky glitter

• Glitter glue

• Dish soap (optional)

• Super glue (optional)

• Food colouring (optional)

Method:

1) Fill your jar with hot water (not boiling water), and leave approx 3cm at the top.

2) Add approx 1-2 tbsp of glitter glue to the jar

3) Add approx 1-2 tbsp of extra fine glitter to the jar

4) Add approxx 1-2 tsp of chunky glitter to the jar

5) Put the lid on securely. You can super glue the lid if you prefer.

6) Shake to combine. The hot water should help dissolve the glitter glue.

Tips:

• If the glitter is clumping together at the top, add a couple squirts of dish soap in the jar and give it a good shake. The dish soap will help separate the glitter. You don’t need much, otherwise it will get bubbly, but that could also be a cool effect the children will like.

• If you don’t mind, you can also stick your finger into the jar if there is glitter clumping together at the top. The natural oils from your finger will help the glitter disperse.

• All measurements for glitter are flexible. Do not be afraid to add more glitter if you want!

• You can use plastic bottles for young children but avoid using hot/boiling water as it will melt the plastic.

• If you like, you can add a couple drops of food colouring, but this is not essential.

• Experiment with the colours, mix them up or focus on one colour for each jar.

How to use?

• These calming glitter jars are perfect to have in a little calm down nook at home or in the classroom, somewhere that the children can go to easily and use when they need.

• They can take a moment with the glitter jar. Shake it up, and observe how the glitter is swirling all around. Then put it down on a stable surface and watch as the glitter gradually falls and settles to the bottom. Whilst observing, encourage them to breathe slowly in and out through their nose. Watching the glitter settle to the bottom is very calming. Invite them to notice if they are feeling any different in their body and mind. This simple mindful activity encourages relaxation and brings them into the present moment.

• I have been using my glitter jars with the storybook, “The Colour Monster” by Anna Llenas. This beautiful book is about colours and feelings. The colour monster’s colours and feelings are all mixed at the beginning of the story. I shake up the glitter jar to demonstrate how it is like the colour monster’s feelings - all mixed up. Sometimes we can feel confused and a little all over the place, like the colour monster. They may be feeling big emotions, or they may not really understand how they are feeling, but when they take a moment to pause and breathe and mindfully observe the glitter jar, it can help soothe and calm down any uncomfortable sensations in the body, and relax a busy mind. A wonderful tool for self-regulation.

• If they are feeling stressed, angry or frustrated, (carefully) shaking the glitter jar can be a therapeutic way to release some of their stress and/or frustration!

• This is not just for children. I highly recommend for ADULTS too :)