Calming Bottles - Activity Instructions

Tune In

Ask all children to find a spot on the ground to lie down and relax. Give them a moment to settle in and find their spot. Then give a very simple instruction without adding too many parameters: We are going to lie still and quietly for 5 minutes.

Then, allow the children to observe how they feel, what they do physically and what their peers do in this time of “lying still and quietly”.

Try not to interject and quieten down any chatter or stifle any movement, as this will offer an opportunity for reflection.

This does not need to last the entire 5 minutes! Use your judgement to decide when the children have had enough time to recognise that sometimes our minds and bodies remain busy, even when we are trying to be quiet.

Find Out

Bring the children back together and ask them how they felt, what they did and what they saw happening during quiet time:

When you were asked to be quiet and still for five minutes, what was your body doing? (Children might identify that they were looking around the room, stretching, scratching, tapping, rolling.)
What was happening in your mind while we were relaxing for five minutes? (Children might identify that they were thinking about how much longer was left, what might be happening after, how hungry they are, etc.)

Compare the children’s experiences to Dara’s in Charlie’s Tales: Dara and the Moonlight Cub.

“When Dara was told to rest, she wanted to keep on playing. Was your mind telling you that you wanted to keep on playing too? Was your brain trying to think of other things you could do?”

Explain to the children that sometimes it can be difficult to switch between play and rest mode. Especially when we are somewhere busy with lots of things and people around, it can be difficult for our minds and bodies to quieten down. Sometimes it can be beneficial to have something to focus on to help us stay in the present moment and allow our minds and bodies to rest, rather than thinking about all the other things we could be doing.

Take Action

Create a nature-calming bottle with the children. Ask children and families to bring in reusable, clear plastic bottles (600ml are more manageable for small children) and any interesting small, natural materials they may find around their yards or local community.

Alternatively, you could take your children on a walking excursion to a local park or green space and collect items for your bottles.

Bringing in resources from the local community and families creates a link between the learning happening in the centre and the children’s world beyond the centre.

To create the calming bottles:

Have children fill the bottles three-quarters full. This can be done via a tap, thin-spouted watering can, or small jugs. Each child will be practising fine motor skills, strengthening arm muscles, and self-help skills.
Once filled with water, the children can add the natural materials. Encourage a mixture of colours and textures. As the natural resources are small, they will be working their pincer grip, an important pre-writing skill. This can be extended upon by providing tweezers for the children to use to put the natural materials into the bottle.

Add additional materials, including biodegradable glitter and oil.

Seal the lid by applying some glue to the inside of the lid before screwing the lid on tight and allowing the glue to dry.

When the calming bottles are complete, place them in an accessible, quiet place where the children can grab them at moments throughout the day when they may need a moment of calm.

Children can shake, spin or tip the bottle and watch the contents swirl around inside, providing a focus point and giving their minds and bodies an opportunity to relax.

You can discuss and reflect with children after they have used the calming bottle.

What was your mind focusing on while you were watching the calming bottle?
How did your body feel while you were relaxing with the calming bottle?
How do you feel now, after a moment of relaxation and calm?

Calming Bottles

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