As a mom, I love finding activities for my kids that are engaging and developmentally beneficial but getting the best of both worlds can feel tricky! How do we make play exciting and worthwhile at the same time? The answer is sensory play.

Sensory play consists of various activities that engage kids' senses through exploration, helping them develop important skills while having fun doing it! If you’re new to sensory play or just curious about what it is, check out this post: "What is Sensory Play?" It’s got all the need-to-know information about why this type of play is fantastic for little ones.

I’ve explored tons of sensory play ideas on my blog, but today, I’m diving deeper into a topic I haven’t covered as much fun sensory bottles and engaging sensory jars! If you’re in need of a little inspiration, grab a jar (or two!), and let’s explore DIY sensory bottles and jars that your kids are sure to enjoy.

15 Sensory Play Jar Ideas: A Multi-Sensory Experience for All Ages

Rainbow Tapioca Pearl Sensory Jar

Water beads are a sensory dream they’re colorful, squishy, and fantastic for relieving stress. But because we’re making a sensory jar where those little hands will touch the materials, let’s switch those water beads out for tapioca pearls. Tapioca pearls are just as engaging as water beads, but they’re taste-safe and non-toxic!

For this jar, simply make (or buy) tapioca pearls and add them into a jar for a fun, tactically engaging treat. Your little ones will love the slimy, squishy texture as they move the beads around. Bonus: they’re not messy!

Beach-Themed Sensory Jar

Bring a little of that “fun in the sun” indoors with a beach-themed sensory jar! It’s a great way to introduce kids to new textures in a way that will keep them intrigued.

Grab a jar and fill it up with edible beach sand it mimics the texture of real sand, but you won’t have to worry about your kids ingesting it. Next, add in your sea shells and ocean animal toys. If you want to go all the way, you could even add a layer of blue Jell-O on top to mimic water!

Now, have your little ones dig through the jar to “save” the animals and find the seashells. This is a fantastic activity for developing fine motor skills!

Pompom Sensory Jar

This pompom sensory jar is a must-try if you’re teaching your little one about colors. It’s a great way to introduce the rainbow in a less overwhelming, hands-on way.

Fill a jar with different-colored pompoms and have the children sort through it, putting each color in a different cup or bowl. You could even use a snack box container set, making it a fun and practical way to practice organization skills!

This method of color sorting engages categorization, attention, problem-solving, and cognitive development. Plus, the pompom’s soft and fluffy texture will make kids want to sort colors all day! It’s a win-win.

Jelly Jungle Safari Sensory Jar

I have to admit, this sensory jar is a little messier than the others. But that’s all part of the fun, right?! This squishy, gooey experience is sure to excite every kid.

Mix clear gelatin with a few drops of food coloring and water. Once the gelatin sets, pour it into a jar and add a handful of safari animals. Ask your little one to use their hands or a small scoop to “rescue” the animals!

The squishiness will be irresistible, and it’s an excellent opportunity to teach them about different species as they dig them out!

Slime Sensory Jar

Slime is always a huge hit with kids, which is why I use it in sensory play as often as possible! Add homemade or store-bought slime into a jar and let your child have fun. They can squish it, squeeze it, or just move it around to watch it jiggle.

There are tons of ways to customize a slime sensory jar. You can add glitter, sensory sequins, colored beads the possibilities are endless! It’s perfect for calming, hands-on play.

Magnetic Sensory Jar

I don’t typically incorporate magnets into sensory play activities, but I thought, why not? It’s a fun and engaging STEM activity involving spatial reasoning and problem-solving!

Grab your jar and fill it with magnet blocks and regular plastic toys. If you have any smaller Connetix tiles that will fit into the jar, feel free to throw those in, too! Hand over a magnet to your little one and let them explore which items are drawn to it.

Kids will have a blast experimenting with the different items, watching some click together while others stay within the jar. It’s both fascinating and incredibly fun!

Shaving Foam Sensory Jar

Shaving foam is a classic sensory material, and for good reason it’s great for encouraging creativity, promoting sensory processing, and enhancing cognitive skills.

To start, use regular shaving foam or try my easy homemade shaving foam sensory play recipe. Fill the jar with shaving foam, then add plastic animals or toys for some fun exploration opportunities!

As messy as it may be, your kiddos will love squishing their way through the foam to dig out all the toys. It’s an engaging and creative way to get those little fingers and hands moving!

Spring Meadow Sensory Jar

A spring meadow sensory jar is a fun way to introduce seasonal awareness through visual stimulation and tactile exploration. You can’t beat it!

Fill your jar with shredded green paper for the grass and throw in a few small flower and butterfly toys. Ask your little one to dig through the jar and point out what they find. This sensory jar is a fun, creative way to inspire imaginative play!

Galaxy Sensory Jar

If there’s one thing that can amp up a sensory activity, its glow-in-the-dark materials this glow-in-the-dark slime recipe was a hit in my home!

We’re not using slime in this sensory jar, though; we’re just using a handful of dry ingredients. Start by following this DIY recipe to make black rice. Once that’s ready, pour it into your jar and add in glow-in-the-dark stars and these solar system stress balls. Go into a darker room and have your kiddo dig through the galaxy as they pick out different stars and planets!

Your kid may not fully grasp the solar system idea and that’s okay! It’s a fun way to promote tactile exploration in an engaging, exciting way that’s different from traditional sensory play.

Texture-Focused Sensory Jar

A HUGE reason I love sensory play is because it allows kids to explore different textures of all kinds. It’s why sensory bins are so beneficial and why I love sensory play for food texture sensitivity! So, what better way to explore different textures than through a sensory jar?

In your jar, you can combine pompoms, colored dry pasta, colored noodles, dyed beans, and maybe even kinetic sand. All your kids have to do is dig through the jar and feel the various textures inside that’s it!

If this feels overwhelming, start with one specific texture instead. You can do anything from a soft and fluffy jar to a bumpy and smooth jar. Texture-sensory jars are fantastic for aiding tactile stimulation and descriptive conversation.

Rainstorm Sensory Bottle

Sensory bottles, commonly referred to as a calm down jar, are one of my favorite DIY sensory toys. They’re designed for visual stimulation instead of a tactile experience, making them perfect for younger kids and babies.

If you have any recyclable plastic bottles, don’t throw them out! This is the perfect opportunity to give them a new life. For a rainstorm illusion, fill the bottle ⅓ of the way with water. Add in glitter and just a few tinsel pompoms. Unlike regular pompoms, the tinsel should help them stay afloat to create the “clouds.” Fill the rest of the bottle with clear glue and super glue the lid shut.

For babies, this is a great way to encourage self-regulation and visual tracking. For toddlers and younger kids, it’s a fun way to introduce them to the idea of weather changes!

Snowy Winter Sensory Bottle

Building on the same seasonal awareness approach of the last idea, this snowy winter bottle also highlights the beauty and changes of the season! It introduces the topic of falling snow in a gentle, engaging way.

Fill a bottle ⅓ of the way with water, adding a handful of snowflake confetti, glitter, and tinsel pompoms. As discussed previously, it’s trial and error with pompoms in sensory bottles. Shake the bottle and fill the rest of it with dish soap.

Watching the glitter and confetti swirl together and fall to the bottom of the bottle is fantastic for self-regulation. It also teaches kids about cause and effect!

Glitter Sensory Bottle

A glitter sensory bottle is super easy to make and is a great way to calm little ones down in overwhelming moments. As they watch the glitter swirl around, it gives their brain and nervous system time to relax.

Grab one of those recyclable water bottles and fill it about ⅓ of the way with clear glue. Add a few drops of food coloring, throw in some glitter, and shake it well. Once you’re happy with the color and consistency, use hot glue to secure the cap you don’t want it accidentally opening!

Feel free to swap out the clear glue for glitter glue it works the same.

Lava Lamp Sensory Bottle

Lava lamps may be one of my favorites among all the sensory bottle ideas they’re just so fun! I think I enjoyed them as much (if not more) than my kids!

For this activity, fill a plastic bottle ⅓ of the way with water and add a couple of drops of food coloring. Close the cap, swirl it around, and fill the rest of the bottle with vegetable or baby oil, leaving 1 inch of space at the top. Finally, add effervescent tablets and glue the lid on with super glue.

If you want to add that glow-in-the-dark effect, use glow-in-the-dark glitter or neon food coloring! Your kids will love this bottle full of excitement and wonder as they use those fine motor skills to shake and swirl the “lava lamp.”

Ocean Waves Sensory Bottle

This ocean wave sensory bottle promotes relaxation while supporting visual tracking and sensory regulation. Whether it’s nap time or bedtime, this is an excellent transition tool.

Fill a bottle ⅓ of the way with water and add a few drops of blue food coloring. Close the cap, shake it, and top the rest of the bottle with hair gel. Secure the lid with hot glue or super glue, and your sensory bottle is ready! For extra visual stimulation, feel free to add glitter.

Unlike real water play, this bottle is perfect for safe, portable exploration that you can take with you anywhere!

When To Start Sensory Play with Sensory Play Jars

Starting sensory play with sensory jars and sensory bottles can vary. As far as sensory bottles go, you can begin as early as infancy! It’s an easy way to engage sight, sound, and proprioception.

Even though you can start incorporating sensory bottles early on, you’ll notice that babies begin to genuinely become curious and engaged anywhere from 4 to 12 months old right around when they start wanting to explore their surroundings!

For sensory jars, different ages can benefit from different things. Once a baby reaches about 9-12 months, they become more tactically curious about the things they can touch and feel this is a great time to introduce simpler sensory jars.

As toddlers grow (12-24 months), they’re more capable of playing with jars that require intentional manipulation. This is when you can introduce jars that involve actions such as sorting, shaking, or adding/removing elements.

By the time your kids are preschooler age (3+), they’ll have the skills to engage in more independent play with more complex sensory jars. That being said, every child is different! Don’t be afraid to explore different bottles and jars; you never know what they might enjoy. When did you introduce your little ones to these sensory tools? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments below!

Sensory play jars are incredible for engaging tons of developmental skills!

When my girls were babies, I loved using sensory bottles to engage them in sensory play. As they got older, I transitioned into incorporating sensory jars to enhance creativity, tactile exploration, and endless opportunities for development. They’re great tools to incorporate into your sensory play, no matter what age your babies are!

For more fun and imaginative independent play, pre-order our new book, Playful by Design! It’s a guide to transforming your home into a place of creativity and connection, igniting your kids’ imagination and fostering independence.

For more engaging sensory play recipes, check out the Mothercould blog! And, if you’re looking for more in-depth tutorials, helpful cleaning tips, and exciting activity packs, download the Mothercould in your Pocket resource.

15 SENSORY PLAY JAR IDEAS: A MULTI-SENSORY EXPERIENCE FOR ALL AGES