Activity instructions
What you need
A clear plastic bottle with a secure cap, water, food coloring, optional vegetable oil or glitter, a funnel, and strong tape or adult-applied non-toxic craft glue.
How to do the activity
- Choose a color that matches a feeling for you today. Colors do not mean the same thing to everyone.
- With adult help, fill the bottle with water. Add a little oil for slow movement, then add food coloring and optional glitter.
- An adult seals the cap securely. Gently turn or shake the bottle, watch the movement, and notice what changes as the contents settle.
Why it may help
The jar offers a predictable visual focus and a concrete way to talk about change. It may support a calming routine, waiting, or a conversation about how feelings shift over time.
Adaptation and communication options
Skip glitter if visual movement is distracting. Use two colors, a quieter bottle with no extras, or invite the child to choose a name for the jar and when they want to use it.