Wednesday 22 January 2014

Sensory bottle ideas


I love the idea of sensory play and it features heavily in my playtime board on Pinterest, but I never seem to get round to creating these gorgeous ideas - lavender scented rice and edible play dough spring to mind - at home. After seeing how much the Mini Grumpy Egyptian loved interacting with the bottles at our playgroup, which were filled with things that the babies are normally too young to play with, I decided to try and make my own at home. I started collecting old drinks bottles and looking for different materials that I could put inside of them.

I picked up a packet of coloured buttons, glitter, feathers, pompoms and table confetti (Poundland and a quick look around the house supplied me with most of these). After washing and drying the bottles out, I played around with what materials looked the best and made the best sounds, before using super glue to stick the lids on tight.

The first one I made was the button bottle and the Mini Grumpy Egyptian loves it. It makes a rattle noise and all the different colours really catch her attention. I have tried putting them all down together - some are heavier than others as they contain water - and she seems to enjoy looking and touching them.

Seeing how simple and cheap it was to make these at home has made me more determined to try and make more things for her rather than buying them. As she is on solids now and obsessed with putting everything in her mouth, I think I might try some edible playdough perhaps infused with lemon peel or a little cocoa powder.


What toys have you made for your little ones? Do you think it saves you money or would you rather just splash the cash?


The Egyptian Mummy

22 comments:

  1. What a great and simple idea. I might give this a go with Little Miss E. She loves anything colourful, and noisy!

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  2. I love homemade toys, these bottles are a great idea and so simple.

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  3. We love sensory bottles, aren't they fab?

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  4. Such a good (and cheap) way keep little ones entertained. I used to do the old skool dry lentils in a plastic bottle shaker thing!

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  5. Interactive play its a great idea for developing a childs imagination , I love the colourful bottles.

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  6. That is a great idea - will have to start saving old bottles!

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  7. To be honest the vast majority of Little Man's toys have been bought for him by others for Christmas or Birthdays... I don't tend to buy him that many and when I do it is because he has expressed a particular interest (e.g. a Thomas the Tank Engine when he started enjoying the tv show). I haven't tried making him any toys but I love the idea of it :)

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  8. I love sensory bottles and did them a lot with the boys when they were small

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  9. I made rattles from plastic bottles and tubs, filled with rice and pasta. But your colourful versions are lovely!

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  10. I made these when my children were little and they loved them :)

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  11. Very effective toys and so colourful too, great for sensory play.

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  12. I love the idea of these bottles but to be honest don't do structured sensory play with my kids. They have all got toys that we have made for them though x

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  13. What a fab idea.. Simple yet so effective

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  14. They look lovely! I made this sort of thing when the kids were little, using dried lentils or stones, but yours are more colourful.

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  15. Love these! All I've done is rice in a bottle, need to up my game!

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  16. What a fabulous idea - so simple too. Should really make some for our toddler. Haven't as yet though :)

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  17. We craft toys at home all the time. I think it helps your child to see that objects can be reused and repurposed and fires their imagination. Your bottles look like lots of fun for little ones x

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  18. They look great. My girls love ones with glitter in the most :)

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  19. Lovely idea - I'd have to fill them with cars for my boy though !

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  20. These look fab - Eliza would love this and anything that actually keeps the glitter inside a bottle is a winner with me

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  21. HOW FAB ! I must do this for my reception class

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  22. How lovely. Pinned and will try this with Miss J. I think she'll love it!

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