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How to make a calm down glow jar

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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.

How To Make A Calm Down Glow Jar-kiddiematters.com

 

Making a Glo-Be calm down jar

kiddimatters.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

blue superman figurine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

AC painting jar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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)

AC glitter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Calm down glow

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 !

 

If you like what you just read please click to send a quick vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs- The best mommy blog directory featuring top mom bloggers

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Social Emotional Learning 24

Comments

  1. Vicki Montague - The Free From Fairy says

    February 25, 2015 at 9:38 am

    I love this idea!! It is fabulous. Do you paint the inside or the outside of the jar? Sorry for being thick!

    Reply
    • Yanique Chambers says

      February 25, 2015 at 10:02 am

      Thank you! I painted the inside. The glow in the dark paint I used comes off easily otherwise. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  2. Jenny says

    February 25, 2015 at 10:32 am

    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

    Reply
    • Yanique Chambers says

      March 1, 2015 at 6:53 am

      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!

      Reply
  3. Catherine says

    February 25, 2015 at 2:09 pm

    These look fabulous. Thank you for sharing the craft 🙂

    #MMWBH

    Reply
    • Yanique Chambers says

      February 25, 2015 at 3:02 pm

      Glad you liked them. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  4. Tarana Khan says

    February 25, 2015 at 3:04 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Yanique Chambers says

      February 25, 2015 at 3:50 pm

      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!

      Reply
  5. Kim @ 2justByou says

    February 26, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    I want to make one for myself too! Love this DIY. Thank you for sharing it.

    Reply
    • Yanique Chambers says

      February 27, 2015 at 11:08 am

      Lol! GO right ahead. We need to de-stress too 🙂

      Reply
  6. Lisa (mummascribbles) says

    February 28, 2015 at 2:44 pm

    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!!)

    Reply
    • Yanique Chambers says

      February 28, 2015 at 4:37 pm

      Thank you! Always a pleasure linking up at #twinklytuesday. Thanks for hosting!

      Reply
  7. Sarah E. Albom says

    March 1, 2015 at 12:30 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Yanique Chambers says

      March 1, 2015 at 6:30 am

      Never thought about that. You’ve given these jars new purpose and versatility! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

      Reply
  8. Sharon says

    March 4, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Yanique Chambers says

      March 4, 2015 at 3:34 pm

      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:-)

      Reply
  9. Sherry says

    March 6, 2015 at 7:45 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Yanique Chambers says

      March 6, 2015 at 8:10 am

      We had so much fun making these jars and I hope you do too. Glad you liked them and thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  10. Kelly @ Mum-bo-Jumbo says

    March 9, 2015 at 8:37 am

    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 🙂

    Reply
  11. Nikki says

    April 11, 2015 at 9:11 am

    i think I want to make one of these. I think my little one would get a kick out of it.

    Reply
  12. Sara says

    April 12, 2015 at 5:11 pm

    I have three kids aged 3 and under and we NEED one of these for our house!

    Reply
  13. Nickely Challenged says

    April 14, 2015 at 7:59 pm

    I know this is intended for kids, but I want one. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Yanique Chambers says

      April 15, 2015 at 10:32 am

      I made one for myself too…shhh 🙂

      Reply
  14. Delonna Reams says

    December 7, 2017 at 3:13 pm

    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.

    Reply

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