Make a silly, bubbly and colorful DIY sensory toy for your kids! Every child will love playing with soapy sensory jars!
I originally made it for George (who’s 18 months) and now Louis at 2 1/2. But don’t limit it to your toddlers!
Babies and even preschoolers will enjoy this as well.
We
It’s been so much fun redoing these activities that were a hit with the older boys and doing them again with the younger ones.
And what I love even more is how each child does it a little bit differently!
Make your own wave bottle for more quick sensory fun!
Silly Soapy Sensory Jars Activity for Toddlers
It took me a long time to do this activity again. Remembering to keep a peanut butter jar is apparently hard to do.
I’ve been getting out of my upcycling habit. I need to get better about that and start a making box!
These sensory jars are super simple to make.
To make your own soapy sensory jar, you’ll need:
- empty, clean plastic jar – like a peanut butter jar – with a lid
- dish soap
- glitter
- food coloring
- super glue or hot glue – optional
Fill a peanut butter jar (or other large plastic jar) half-way with water. Add food coloring of your choice.
Add some dish soap. Lots if you want lots of bubbles!
Add glitter in too if you’d like some sparkles.
Then put on the lid. I’ve never sealed it with glue, but you can if you’re worried about kids opening it up, or it leaking.
Shake & Roll Your Soapy Sensory Jar
Louis had a great time shaking the jar and watching the ways it changed. He loved looking at the
And then Louis and I began a game of rolling the jar back and forth to each other. This was a winner!
Check Out Our Original Soapy Sensory Jar Activity!
I filled up some old peanut butter jars halfway with water. Hooray for upcycling!
We just added a few drops of food coloring to each jar George wanted a jar each of blue, red, and green.
It just takes a squirt of dish soap to make them bubbly soapy sensory jars!
Then I handed the sensory jar to George and he took it from there – exploring and playing! Toddlers are fascinated with the bubbles and even more fascinated that they can make the bubbles by shaking!
Enjoy even more bubbly sensory fun for toddlers!
More bubbles and more bubbles just by shaking up the sensory jars!
George also did some spinning and stacking with the jars.
It doesn’t matter what they do, or how they do it, the jars just need to be moving. We love to get our toddlers moving, because, well I like to burn off their energy every day!
Keep having fun with 6 more sensory play ideas kids!
If you’re worried about spills, you can glue the lid on with school glue, just be sure to let it dry before letting them play with it.
We also ended up adding glitter to the soapy sensory jars.
If I were to make it just a glitter sensory jar, I would have filled the jars with water and just added glitter. But we were mostly after the soapy, bubble effect for these sensory jars.
George loved to shake up the glitter, then watching it settle.
George wanted to stack the jars, to make towers. They’re kind of like big blocks!
These would make great time-out or calm down jars as well.
All Henry wanted to do was to make the bubbles go away. So no one could touch them.
He waited and waited for them to disappear. That was quite the task for a very energetic boy!
These sensory jars are one of the 50 Activities Just for your Toddler!
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Make a Wave Bottle for Kids to Explore
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Catherine L says
Looking for ideas for our 18 month old GRANDCHILD. I’m loving these ideas. Love the upcycling. You’ve given me so many crafts to do with her
Thank you
Tabitha Lightfoot says
Hi Catherine! Here are a bunch of ideas for your granddaughter! https://handsonaswegrow.com/activities/toddler-activities/
Cindy Blakemore says
I love this idea and plan to try it! I’m a Speech-Language Pathologist and I work with toddlers in the home coaching parents on how to increase their child’s communication skills. I’m always looking for simple, interesting and fun activities my parents can make at home and use with their children.
adriana says
can I do this with a class of 18 young tots. 3 teachers in the room. we can do this with 6 kids per teacher. sure they will love it..but outdoors to make it more fun.
Jake says
Wow, your site has way too many ads and photos.
Doremon says
Great idea
Sometimes I do experiments with soap for my son .
It seems the guys who also like soap bubbles
chutima rittraprom says
I just know on the Internet . And very interesting. Want to teach the boy. I hope he is smart. Thanks.
Lisa says
I made these for my 2 yr old nephew & he loves them! Thank you for the idea :)
Jamie Reimer says
Awesome to hear Lisa!
Susan Ruffin says
You can also use corn syrup and put in different things such as buttons, shapes, the foil confetti, etc. I did this with empty water bottles for my kindergarten class to use for a cool down when they got feisty. They loved it!
The corn syrup can be thinned down some with water if it’s too thick.
Jamie Reimer says
Great idea Susan! We did something similar with our ‘wave bottles’ — https://handsonaswegrow.com/wave-bottle-sensory/
Bonnet Obey says
“Bonnet Obey” hi,ifrodings your sites named “Soapy Sensory Jars Activity for Toddlers – hands on : as we grow” like every week. Your writing style is awesome,keep it up!thx “Bonnet Obey”
Brandy Merriman says
My son really loved the foam soap he played for hours:-)
Jamie Reimer says
Oh! So good to hear Brandy! Glad he enjoyed it!
Carmel says
Thanks!! This is great! I didnt have any jars so used a empty cola bottle. My son loves rolling it about :)
Karen Ghidella says
I love that you included glitter, think I’m going to try that in their outdoor water play activity centre, just for variety!
Dana says
I love these!! We are going to make them for our preschool class this week. Thanks for the inspiration and for sharing!!
Gemma-Marie says
Hey love this idea of glitter jars :) I tried it as I work in a nursery with children aged 2-3 years but when I did the glitter jars I put half water then the glitter and then food colour and look at them in the morning and they have gone cloudy do you know why this might be ??? Would I have to do them again because they looked so good before :)
Hajer says
Wow! Very cute and very easy. Just love it! I know my toddler would love it! And I just pinned it too :)
Lyn Armstrong says
Your ideas are awesome!!! What fun you must have with your boys!!!!! Keep sending the wonderful play ideas. We all even adults need to play more!!!!
Jamie says
Oh thanks so much! You just made my day!
Ali @ At home with Ali says
Great idea, my little one will love this but I will have to glue that id on.
Jamie says
I almost decided to. So, yes, I recommend it. Especially if they know to unscrew. Henry about took them off.
Roopa says
Love these simple ideas!! Add some oil and its fun to watch the two layers separate…
Watching the glitter settle down is very calming too:)
Jamie says
That would be a great addition!
Mamacook says
Love it!
Cerys @ Rainy Day Mum says
What a great activity and so simple as well. I’m pinning it onto the baby and toddler play ideas board on pinterest
Jamie says
Thanks Cerys!
crystal@growingajeweledrose says
What a great idea! Jewel would love this!