Mason jars are a good place to start if you have older children that you trust to handle glass. Clear plastic containers are safer and better choices for younger children. Check your recycling for an empty plastic peanut butter jar, a sturdy water bottle, or a plastic juice or soda bottle. Many crafters recommend Voss or SmartWater bottles for their large size and smooth, sturdy construction. Other ideas include a sanitizer, squeeze, or corked bottle (for older kids because of glass shatters. )
To create the glitter effect, you’ll be adding glitter glue to the water. Using warm water will help melt the glue, resulting in a smoother suspension with no noticeable globs or separation. Leave 1–2 inches (2. 5–5. 1 cm) of space at the top of the container so that the glitter mixture has room to move when shaken. [4] X Research source
Use a toothpick or cotton swab to assist in scraping the glue out of the slender tubes.
Stir in the food coloring gradually until you reach the desired shade. Be careful not to add too much color. This will darken the contents of the jar and make it difficult to see the glitter. [7] X Research source Just use 3 or 4 drops for mason jars, but only a tiny, tiny drop for sanitizer bottles. If you add too much, pour out most of the bottle and add more water.
The more glitter you use, the longer it will take to settle. Play around with different proportions of ingredients to change how long it takes for the glitter to settle in the jar. [9] X Research source Different colors of glitter can look beautiful!
This will keep the lid securely attached to the jar so that there’s no risk of it being pried off by small children or coming dislodged if it’s dropped. Be careful when handling strong adhesives. Some strong glues can harm your skin. Additionally, since there will be glitter everywhere, there’s a lot of potential to make a mess.
Make enough calm down jars for every child in the household to have their own. This will help prevent stressful arguments over what belongs to who. Soft colors like blue, pink, green, and lavender are especially soothing. [12] X Research source
Check craft supply stores for unique and interesting types of glitter.
Make sure the container you select is clear, can be gripped easily, and won’t shatter if it’s dropped or thrown. [15] X Research source Fill a keychain-sized hand sanitizer bottle with glitter to give your kids something to play with while you’re grocery shopping.
Demonstrate how the jar works and explain that it’s supposed to make you feel better when you’re unhappy. Make sure small children can safely hold and shake the jar themselves. If not, you can get it started for them.
It will take a few minutes for the glitter to completely settle, during which time your child’s mind and heart rate will stop racing.
Calm down jars work because they subconsciously mirror your child’s emotional state. They’ll be responding to the behavior of the jar without even being aware of it. Encourage them to keep the calm down jar in their room or take it with them to a quiet place where they can have a few minutes alone to cool off.
