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Children are under all sorts of pressures these days. At school they have to worry about standardized tests, bullying and peer pressure. When they get home, some children are faced with even more stressors.
Wouldn’t it be nice to help your child or student release some tension and get back to having fun? Sometimes the best way to nurture a stressed out child is to give them some attention and engage them in something fun.
Below is an activity that any child will enjoy. They will get to spend time with you and at the end of that time, they will have a fun keepsake to help them de-stress anytime they need to unwind.
Making a Glo-Be calm down jar
Supplies you will need:
*Glow in the dark paint (can be found at Walmart in arts and crafts department and at craft stores like Michael’s).
*Jar (baby food jar, Mason jar, plastic empty peanut butter jar, etc.)
*Fine glitter
*Figurine and other decorations
*Hot glue gun or super glue
*Paint brush
Step 1: Glue figurine to lid
Choose your favorite figurine that you want to go inside the jar. Glue the figurine to the inside of the lid and let dry. You can also glue glitter on or paint the inside of the lid with glow in the dark paint.
Step 2: Paint jar with glow in the dark paint
Paint the inside of your jar with glow in the dark paint. You can also decorate your jar with additional items to build a scene in the jar. Creating a scene allows the child to use their imagination and come up with a story of what is going on inside the jar. My son’s jar theme was Superman being trapped in cryptonite. He added green pom poms to represent the cryptonite.
Step 3: Add glitter (optional)
My little princess loves glitter and we had to add it to her calm down jar. Sprinkle the desired amount of glitter you want. I put enough just to make it sparkle. It’s much easier to get the glitter to stick if you sprinkle it on immediately after you paint the jar. After you put glitter in the jar, roll the jar on its side to distribute the glitter inside the jar.
Step 4: Tighten lid on jar
Tightly screw lid on to the jar, dim the lights and enjoy! (You can turn on a black light for an even more glowy effect).
Why make a Glo-Be Jar
Once you have successfully created a Glo-Be calm down jar, the uses are endless. Here are some ways I’ve used the Glo-Be jar:
- As part of a calm down center for when children are overwhelmed with their feelings
- During individual counseling sessions. In my experience, most children hate talk therapy because it can feel like an interrogation. Having a conversation with them while they are engaged in a task makes them more at ease. And as a bonus, they leave the session with a piece of art they created!
- While working with children who are victims of trauma. Making a Glo-Be is very therapeutic and soothing. Since the Glo-Be glows in the dark, children can use it as a night light. Some children just feel safe and comforted having the Glo-Be, especially if they made it with someone they share a positive, nurturing relationship with.
- As a fun craft for my own children. Making a Glo-Be is a fun activity to do with kids. They will enjoy the time spent together and kids love things that glow in the dark!
If you like this post you might also like Quick And Easy ‘I Spy’ Jar !
Vicki Montague - The Free From Fairy says
I love this idea!! It is fabulous. Do you paint the inside or the outside of the jar? Sorry for being thick!
Yanique Chambers says
Thank you! I painted the inside. The glow in the dark paint I used comes off easily otherwise. Thanks for stopping by!
Jenny says
What a great idea and fun craft project for the kids to get involved in. I love this and my two would be so excited. Will have to bookmark. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
Yanique Chambers says
It is so much fun and the kids to this day will play with their jars for hours. Hope you get a chance to make them with your little ones!
Catherine says
These look fabulous. Thank you for sharing the craft 🙂
#MMWBH
Yanique Chambers says
Glad you liked them. Thanks for stopping by!
Tarana Khan says
This is such a good idea! I like that it has so many benefits too, and best of all, it keeps kids away from the screen. #sharewithme
Yanique Chambers says
Absolutely! Every where I go I see kids glued to a screen,my own included. I’m always on the hunt for screen free activities! Thanks for stopping by!
Kim @ 2justByou says
I want to make one for myself too! Love this DIY. Thank you for sharing it.
Yanique Chambers says
Lol! GO right ahead. We need to de-stress too 🙂
Lisa (mummascribbles) says
What a brilliant idea and great tip above on the painting the inside! Thanks for linking up with #twinklytuesday (very apt for this particular post!!)
Yanique Chambers says
Thank you! Always a pleasure linking up at #twinklytuesday. Thanks for hosting!
Sarah E. Albom says
What a lovely craft. I always like whenever I come home from a night event and I have some sort of glow stick to put by my bedside table.
– Linking over from weekend blog party.
Yanique Chambers says
Never thought about that. You’ve given these jars new purpose and versatility! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Sharon says
This is a really great idea. Sometime they just need a second to gather themselves. I know my 2 year old son would sit there and calm down with something like this. I am going to try this out and see how it works! Sharing! Thanks for sharing this at Totally Terrific Tuesday! I can’t wait to see what you have for this week.
Sharon
herorganizedchaos.com
Yanique Chambers says
I’m glad you like it. My kids love their jars, especially at night. Hope your little guy likes it too. Glad you stopped by:-)
Sherry says
What a great idea! I will give this a try. Thanks for linking up to Funtastic Friday. Hope you can make it again this week.
Yanique Chambers says
We had so much fun making these jars and I hope you do too. Glad you liked them and thanks for stopping by!
Kelly @ Mum-bo-Jumbo says
These are so cool, I love them! As soon as I find some glow in the dark paint, I am going to make one of these with my son. Thanks for linking this up at my Mum-bo Monday link up party a few weeks back – this post will be featured this week 🙂
Nikki says
i think I want to make one of these. I think my little one would get a kick out of it.
Sara says
I have three kids aged 3 and under and we NEED one of these for our house!
Nickely Challenged says
I know this is intended for kids, but I want one. Thanks for sharing.
Yanique Chambers says
I made one for myself too…shhh 🙂
Delonna Reams says
Just want to say this was such an amazing craft to do with both my children ages 4 an 16 and my 16 yr old was in need of a sensory calm down jar like this. Can’t say enough thanks to you for sharing this. A big thanks from Idaho.