Eyes on Early Years Volume 11 | Page 15

Winter Festive Sensory Bottles By: Emma Jayne Morgan There are a wide variety of different types of sensory bottles you can make with young children which can be themed in different winter or festive ways. The beauty of sensory bottles is that children can have the freedom to explore them independently, without any mess or choking hazards, as long as you ensure they are well sealed. Use a glue gun or something equally strong to make sure those lids are staying put! Magnetic Bottles These bottles are great for exploring and investigating in a fun, themed way. Children can find out which items are magnetic or not, as well as experiment with how they can move things around without moving the bottle. You will need: • Empty water bottles with lids • Fillers such as pompoms, beads, coloured beans, foil wrapping paper cut into small squares, etc. • Some magnetic filler like pipe cleaners, jingle bells or magnetic disks • A glue gun • Tape Create the bottles by adding a selection of magnetic and non-magnetic fillers. Glue the lids on and add extra tape for added security. Then just allow the children to explore the bottles using the magnetic wand and see what they discover. As there are lots of potential choking hazards inside, despite securing the lids, adult supervision is necessary.