4th of July Discovery Bottle for Kids

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Are you looking for a super easy and fun sensory play activity for Independence Day? Look no farther than this 4th of July Discovery bottle that you can create with your kids! A great way to work on some fine motor and sensory activities with a fun theme.

4th of July Discovery Bottle for Kids.

4th of July Discovery Bottle Items

To create this discovery bottle you will need:

  • Empty plastic water bottle (I used this one)
  • Red glitter
  • Blue glitter
  • American flag buttons (we found ours in the scrapbook isle at Hobby Lobby)
  • Star buttons (red, white and blue)
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Water
  • Patriotic washi tape

4th of July Discovery Bottle for Kids.

Directions for Patriotic Themed Discovery Bottle

Pour some of the red and blue glitter into the bottom of your empty water bottle. Be sure to not use too much or you won't be able to see the floating items inside the bottle later.

Add your flag buttons, stars, and fill about 1/4 of the way up the water bottle with water.

4th of July Discovery Bottle for Kids.

Squeeze hand sanitizer into the rest of the water bottle until it fills it almost to the top.

Tilt your bottle back and forth to mix all the items together. The glitter will remain floating the entire time because of the hand sanitizer. You are looking for the flag buttons and stars to gently float back and forth when you tip the bottle over.

If they are moving too quickly, simply add more hand sanitizer. If they are moving too slowly, add some more water.

Once you are satisfied with the way it looks and move, seal it tightly with the lid. Then wrap the top of the bottle with patriotic washi tape. I find this helps to discourage smaller kids from trying to twist the bottle open.

4th of July Discovery Bottle for Kids.

You can also use a small amount of hot glue around the inside of the lid and screw it on securely that way (especially if you have very little babies or toddlers around who might get a hold of it).

That's it! Just sit back and enjoy the suspended glitter and gently floating flags and buttons.

You could play some great I Spy games with this such as trying to count how many flags are inside, how many red stars, or blue stars etc.

Looking for more easy and fun sensory play activities like this one? Check out my resources below.

 

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Heather Greutman, COTA

Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant with experience in school-based OT services for preschool through high school. She uses her background to share child development tips, tools, and strategies for parents, educators, and therapists. She is the author of many ebooks including The Basics of Fine Motor Skills, and Basics of Pre-Writing Skills, and co-author of Sensory Processing Explained: A Handbook for Parents and Educators.

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CONTENT DISCLAIMER: Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
All information on the Website is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for medical advice from a physician or your pediatrician. Please consult with a medical professional if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. The information on the Websites does not replace the relationship between therapist and client in a one-on-one treatment session with an individualized treatment plan based on their professional evaluation. The information provided on the Website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.

Do not rely on the information on the Website as an alternative to advice from your medical professional or healthcare provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment as a result of any information provided on the Website. All medical information on the Website is for informational purposes only.

All activities outlined on the Website are designed for completion with adult supervision. Please use your own judgment with your child and do not provide objects that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Never leave a child unattended during these activities. Please be aware of and follow all age recommendations on all products used in these activities. Growing Hands-On Kids is not liable for any injury when replicating any of the activities found on this blog.

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