Galaxy Sensory Bottle Craft and Play
Layer cotton balls, glitter, and colored water in a bottle to create a swirling galaxy your child can shake, tilt, and watch settle — calming and beautiful.
What You'll Need
- 1Clean plastic bottle with cap
- 2Food coloring (dark blue, red or pink)
- 3Fine glitter (silver and purple)
- 4Cotton balls
- 5Baby oil or mineral oil
- 6Super glue
What You'll Need
A clean plastic bottle with a secure cap
Food coloring (dark blue plus red or pink)
Fine glitter in silver and purple
Cotton balls
Baby oil or mineral oil
Super glue for sealing the cap
How to Play
Fill the bottle one-third with water and add dark blue food coloring.
Add a generous tablespoon of silver and purple glitter.
Stretch cotton balls into thin wisps and drop them in — they look like nebula clouds.
Fill to two-thirds with baby oil. The oil and water naturally separate, creating distinct layers.
Add a drop of red coloring to the oil for a second color dimension.
Fill almost to the top, leaving a small air bubble.
Super-glue the cap shut. Shake, tilt, and watch the galaxy swirl.
Tips
The oil and water never truly mix — they separate back into layers, which means every shake produces a new galaxy pattern.
Galaxy bottles are incredibly calming. The slow settling of glitter is used in mindfulness practices for children.
Let your child participate in the assembly. Pouring and adding glitter is half the fun.
Place the bottle on a light table or hold it up to a window for maximum visual impact.
These make wonderful handmade gifts. Kids love making them for friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 20 min, with 10 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: clean plastic bottle with cap, food coloring (dark blue, red or pink), fine glitter (silver and purple), cotton balls, baby oil or mineral oil, and 1 more item.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 3-6 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This activity has a moderate difficulty level. It may require some preparation or guidance, but is manageable for most families.
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