Looking for something to help your kids calm down and relax when they are cooped up indoors because of the cold weather outside? Try this winter snowflake calm down jar.

The third Sunday in January is celebrated each year as World Snow Day. It’s a time for making snowman cake pops, for crafting snowman figures, and for projects like this fun calm down jar.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, and the kids are not feeling delightful! Let’s do something about that!

Make sure you and the kids check out our posts with Santa’s address and Santa’s phone number so they can send him their wishlist in time for Christmas!

If you call him on the phone, he’ll even let you know if you’re on the naughty or nice list!

What is a calm down jar?

A calm down jar is a jar filled with items that are designed to soothe and relax the person using it.

These homemade relaxation jars use water, food coloring and other items to give a stressed out child (or adult) a few moments of relaxation.

Also called “glitter jars”, these handy jars are fun to make and relaxing to use.

This soothing calm down bottle project is as easy to make as they come. In a few minutes, you’ll have a calming glitter jar that the kids can shake. They will love to see the snowflakes floating down in the midst of the blue glitter gel.

In addition to this calm down jar being relaxing, it also makes cute holiday decor! You could do so many variations of this jar – instead of snowflakes and blue glitter you could make it with poinsettias and red or white glitter. This would celebrate not only Christmas, but National Poinsettia Day too.

It’s sort of like a Christmas snow globe effect. Remember how you used to feel when you shook one of those and the snowflakes floated over a pretty scene? This is my version of that for the winter months.

If your kids would like something to drink while using the calming jar, be sure to check out National Hot Chocolate Day for some ideas!

Are your kid's stressed out from spending too much time indoors during the cold weather? Make this easy calm down jar in just minutes to relax and soothe them. Get the tutorial at Always the Holidays. #calmdownjar #glitterjar ❄❄❄ Share on X

Note: Hot glue guns, and heated glue can burn. Please use extreme caution when using a hot glue gun. Learn to use your tool properly before you start any project.

Supplies for making a glitter jar

1 clear jar. I used an empty shampoo bottle with the labels removed. Other options are Voss Water bottles, or any plain clean jar. Be sure it has a decently wide opening.
Goo Gone – To remove the label residue
5.4 oz bottle of blue glitter glue
About a teaspoon of silver glitter
Hot water
Small plastic snowflake stickers
Blue glitter glue stick
Hot glue gun and glue stick

How to make a calm down jar with snowflakes

If you buy a Voss water bottle, you will be able to skip the first step.

If you use a shampoo bottle, like I did, clean out the shampoo and wash the bottle thoroughly several times to remove all of the contents.

Then remove the jar label and get rid of the residue with Goo Gone.

Fill the bottle about 1/2 way with very hot tap water.

NOTE: Cold water will keep the glitter glue from mixing with the water, so be sure the water is hot. Add the contents of a 5.4 ounce bottle of blue glitter glue.

The glue will come out in big strings when you squeeze the bottle. If you remove the cap, you’ll be able to get the last remnants of the glue in smaller strings.

Replace the cap of the shampoo bottle and shake the bottle to mix the blue glitter glue.

Add about 1/2 of a very small tube of silver glitter. Replace the cap and shake again to mix in the silver glitter.

The blue glitter glue has glitter in it, but adding some more gives more for the children to watch as it swirls around.

Trim the snowflake stickers. I left the plastic backing on them to give them a bit more weight and to keep the glitter from attaching itself to them.

Fill the bottle to the top with hot water and place the trimmed snowflakes in the bottle. You will notice that they just sit on the top of the water.

The reason for this is because the snowflakes are so light. However, they will move around inside when your child moves the bottle around.

Sealing the glitter jar

Insert a blue glitter glue stick into a hot glue gun and seal around the edges of the top of the bottle. THIS IS IMPORTANT.

If you don’t seal the bottle closed, your child may be able to open the bottle. At the least, it will make a mess. Worst case scenario, they might drink it!!

I also used the blue glitter glue stick to decorate around the gold ring that was left on my bottle after I removed the shampoo.

You will notice that the contents separate when the bottle sits for a while. That is what makes this project fun.

The snowflakes sit up top (in the clouds!) and the glitter and blue glitter glue settle to the bottom of the bottle (like the ocean!)

When your child shakes the bottle and turns upside down, and then upright again, they will have a lovely blue glitter effect with falling snowflakes.

Also, the snowflakes will sit in different parts of the bottle, depending on how it is held.

This glitter jar is so much fun, so relaxing and so effective at calming down your child on a cold winter’s day indoors!

I can see why these calm down bottles work. I actually found it relaxing to make the project. Each time I shook the bottle, I felt a sense of relaxation.

For another activity the kids will love, make sure to get our free Christmas word search and Christmas word scramble.

Admin note: this post for the snowflake calm down jar project first appeared on the blog in January of 2017. I have updated the post to include a printable craft project card and a video for you to enjoy.

Pin this calm down jar for later

Would you like a reminder of this snowflake relaxation glitter jar? Just pin this image to one of your DIY boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

Yield: ! calm down jar

Snowflake Calm Down Jar

This winter snowflake calm down jar will be a fun activity that will really keep the kids occupied and quiet them down.

Active Time 30 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Difficulty Moderate

Estimated Cost $10

Materials

1 clear jar. I used an empty shampoo bottle with the labels removed. Other options are Voss Water bottles, or any plain clean jar. Be sure it has a decently wide opening.
Goo Gone- To remove the label residue
5.4 oz bottle of Blue Glitter Glue
About a teaspoon ofSilver Glitter
Hot Water
Small Plastic Snowflake stickers
Blue Glitter Glue Stick

Tools

hot glue gun

Instructions

Clean the bottle and allow to dry. Use Goo Gone to remove the label and residue.
Fill the bottle 1/2 full with very hot water.
Add the contents of the blue glitter glue.
Replace the cap and shake to distribute.
Add about 1/2 of a small tube of silver glitter. Replace cap and shake again.
Trim the snowflakes so most of the excess backing is removed but leave the backing on the back of the actual stickers so the glue doesn't stick to them.
Add hot water to fill the jar and place the stickers in the jar.
Use a blue glitter stick to seal the top so that it can't be opened by your child.