It’s January, and another jam-packed holiday season has gone as fast as it rolled in. I’ve noticed this post-holiday time can be stressful for kids readjusting to old routines (hard for some of us adults too).
With that in mind, we thought we’d share the DIY for our magic zen meditation jar as a calming activity today for anyone looking for a moment’s peace.
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These magic mindfulness tools (sometimes called “glitter bottles” or “calming jars”) are SO. DARN. MESMERIZING. In fact, photographing this project took 40 minutes longer than it should have due to being caught in hazy, dazed amazement.
The idea is that after you shake the meditation jar, you watch and wait. By the time all the glitter reaches the bottom (I timed mine to take about 1 minute), you will have found your happy place – comfortable in your own stillness as you serenely watch the pieces of glitter swirl around and slowly sink.
Explaining the what, why, and how of meditation, mindfulness, or simply slowing down to kids can quickly spiral into a “what just happened here…?” moment for everyone.
The great magic of these “magic” jars is that your kids will teach themselves the practice before you even start an explanation.
For more quiet meditation fun, make some sensory play moon sand for a calming day at the beach. Add recycled peace gardens (with five easy kids’ relaxation techniques!) to your chill family to-do list. Or sprinkle a bit of magic into your sleep routine with our DIY pixie dust aromatherapy linen powder.
To make your own magic zen DIY meditation jars, you’ll need:
Note: We prefer to shop locally or use what we have at home, but this list contains Woodpeckers Crafts, Etsy, Blick Art Materials, Bookshop.org and/or Amazon affiliate links for reference. As affiliates (and Amazon Associates), we make a small commission on qualifying purchases.*
BASIC SUPPLIES:
- A Jar or container with a water-tight lid (we used a small 8 oz. plastic container like these)
- Hot water
- Glycerin (like this kind we used, or Wilton Vegetable Glycerin for smaller amounts)
- Dish soap
- Eco-friendly glitter like this kind, this kind, or this kind via Universal Soul – 3 certified alternatives to standard ocean-harming glitter.
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES:
- Other fun stuff to throw in the mix (i.e., legos, little plastic animals, charms, etc.)
- A Non-water-soluble glue (like gorilla glue) for a leak-proof seal
How to Make a Calming Jar – DIY Instructions:
Create a mesmerizing, more eco-friendly glitter jar with dish soap in minutes with these simple step-by-step instructions, and enjoy the calming effects of this beautiful (and easy!) DIY.
Total Time: 5 minutes
Fill a small jar with water and add glycerin.
Start with two parts water (I filled roughly 2/3 of the bottle) and 1 part glycerin (I filled the remaining 1/3 with glycerin).
The more glycerin you add, the longer it will take the glitter to fall to the bottom – you can start with my recipe and alter or experiment accordingly.
Add dish soap.
Two drops of dish soap will keep the glitter from clumping and staying at the top!
Add a glitter alternative.
Add glitter to taste (ahem, not literally). I put in roughly two tablespoons total. Let your kids pick their colors of glitter or mix colors.
A note about using eco-friendly glitter: Most eco-friendly glitters are produced from plant cellulose, making them biodegradable. This kind of glitter requires microorganisms to eat away at the bits for decomposition.
Because our little bottles used treated tap water and were sealed, a closed environment was created, and it took quite a while (months) to show any signs of decomposing.
Elements like heat can also cause them to degrade, so leaving your meditation jar out in the hot sun may contribute to the faster decomposition of the glitter.
Add other fun objects and screw the lid on tight!
This is kind of an anything-goes project. Enjoy beads? Put ’em in. Have some Lego people lying around? Yup, into the drink. Old Barbie shoes? Sure. Yes. Let’s do it.
Pretty much anything small, durable, and light enough can be added. You can also color the water with food coloring.
After some test shakes, if you’re afraid of a mess or your glitter bottle isn’t quite water-tight, add non-water-soluble glue around the rim, screw the lid on tight, and let set.
After you’re done putting the jar together, kids won’t even need a prompt for what to do next. Sit back and watch them shake these up, then completely zone out watching the swirly, glittery amazing-ness (like I did).
Fun game: see how many of your adult friends or co-workers have precisely the same reaction.
These glitter bottles take about 5 minutes, so go crazy and make a bunch!
Six Ways to Use Your Magic Zen Meditation Jar
- These mindfulness jars can provide a sense of calm and be part of a scheduled time for reflection and quiet.
- They can represent worries or frustrations – a good shake and some consideration time go a long way to help little ones with those (and by the way, these work just as well as calming jars for adults too…!).
- They’re a perfect time-out timer and can help divert angry energy, reset focus, and switch gears to deescalate tantrums or dissipate arguments.
- A glitter jar makes a great timer for ANYTHING. It’s a great way for kids who might not fully understand clock reading to visualize the passing of time. Watching the hand or numbers on a timer tick down and waiting for the loud “DING” can produce feelings of tension, agitation, and impatience. These magic zen jars produce the opposite reaction, and kids seem to thoroughly enjoy the change of pace.
- The mini size of the glitter bottle set we made works perfectly for travel anxiety or quelling frustration and short nerves during long car rides. You can also pair it with our kids travel yoga routine (with free printable cards) for extra calming powers.
- Use your mindfulness jar for a quick and simple counting game. Make two or three jars with different amounts of glycerine, then have “jar races” and count how many seconds it takes for all the glitter to reach the bottom.
Tools to Use With Your Calming Jar
- Mindful.org has an incredibly helpful meditation jar script to use with kids to help them find their focus and better understand this exercise.
- I absolutely love the Headspace app (I’ve always just used the free version), and they’ve created a wonderful meditation program just for kids.
- This activity pairs so well with yoga of any kind, but this calm-down yoga series from Kids Yoga Stories is a great match for our zen jars. I also like this garden yoga sequence for little ones (I’m such a sucker for garden-themed anything!) from Childhood 101. Both have provided free printable posters too!
- Not into yoga? Take a walk outside before or after a sit-down with your meditation jar and practice some deep breathing with a suggestion from this fantastic collection of kids’ breathing exercises from Coping Skills for Kids. Great for any age, really.
DIY Glitter Jar Tips and FAQs
Is it possible to make glitter bottles without glycerin?
The glycerin is what keeps the glitter floating so it doesn’t all fall straight to the bottom, so if you want that exact effect, you’ll need to include it.
Is there a good substitute for glycerin?
If you don’t have glycerin, clear school glue is a good alternative that produces similar results.
How quickly does it take the biodegradable glitter to disappear?
Most biodegradable glitters are plant-based and need a combination of heat, water, oxygen, and microorganisms to biodegrade. It typically takes months for these types of glitters to completely biodegrade in the ocean or a landfill, so it should last in your bottle for quite a while!
Is there any other eco-friendly way to have a similar effect but longer lasting?
You could use oil, food coloring, and water for a different kind of calm jar. It doesn’t settle in the same way, but it can be just as mesmerizing to watch!
Do I need to use distilled water in my glitter jar?
Some suggest using distilled water in homemade glitter jars because contaminants and minerals have been removed, ensuring your glitter jar will remain clean and clear for as long as possible. Although there could be some benefits in particular circumstances, it’s generally unnecessary.
How do I prevent sudsy bubbles when shaking the jar?
If a lot of bubbles are produced every time you shake the jar, one thing that may help is to top off the bottle with water to push out any extra air. I filled ours to the top before screwing the lid on, and we didn’t have any suds, so I’d try that!
Can kids make glitter bottles independently?
Children can easily make these if they can pour, though adult supervision is recommended for younger kids. These glitter jars are extremely simple to make, but the glitter tends to be messy, and younger children may need help securing the lid.
I’d also recommend using a slightly bigger container with a wider mouth than the small bottles I used, making it easier for little hands to dump ingredients into.
For more ideas to help kids find their calm, try some our simple strategies for coping with stress as a family.
*A note about affiliate links: We strive to use simple, earth-friendly supplies that can be purchased locally whenever we can, but sometimes we find the best universally available options, a rare eco-friendly find, or a niche product only available on Blick Art Materials, Amazon, Etsy, or Woodpeckers Crafts. When included in our supply list, these products are affiliate links, and if you click through to make a purchase we receive a small commission that helps us re-order these supplies!
GETTING READY TO TRY this?
I love seeing all the ways people make these ideas their own! If you're sharing the results of one of our projects, mention or tag me with @barleyandbirch, or share it in the comments of one of our Pinterest project pins.
These magic Zen jars are awesome! My kids argue a lot,and these Zen jars really help. Thank you!
I love them as stress-busters, but hadn’t even considered them for calming arguments – sweet tip Teddy, thank you!!
How quickly does the biodegradable glitter disappear when in contact with the water? How long would the bottle last with this effect? Is there any other eco-friendly way to have similar effect but longer lasting?
Hi Kasia – good question! Most biodegradable glitters are plant-based and need a combination of heat, water, oxygen and microorganisms to biodegrade. It typically takes months for these types of glitters to completely biodegrade in the ocean or in a landfill, so it should last in your bottle for quite awhile!
Hi!! I love this idea and have tried making them but I keep getting bubbles and suds from the dish soap. How much do you add? The bubbles are making it hard for my little one to see the glitter settle.
Hi Lindsay! I added two small drops of Dawn dish soap to the warm water and glycerin mixture. One thing that may help is topping off your bottle with water to push out any extra air. I filled ours to the top before screwing the lid on, and we didn’t have any soapy bubbles, so I’d give that a try!
Is it possible to make these without Glycerin, just water and a bit of soap?
Hi Julie, I haven’t tried making these without glycerin, but you could give it a try! Just watching what happens when the ingredients are mixed, I would guess the glycerin is what keeps the glitter floating so it doesn’t fall straight to the bottom, so it may be fairly necessary if you want that effect.
Hi this looks really cool can a kid make all by them self
If they can pour, they can make these with adult supervision for sure! They’re extermely simple to make, but glitter can tend to get a bit messy and they may need help securing the lid. I’d also recommend using a slightly bigger bottle with a wider mouth than the small ones I used – easier for little hands to dump ingredients into. 😉
Hey I love your content and idea! Could we use your pictures in our children mental health curriculum presentation? We are an non-profit organization and this presentation will only be used as publicity. We will make sure to credit your name and website beside the pictures and at the end of the presentation! Feel free to email me if you don’t feel like to. Thanks!