As a therapist working with mostly youth and teens, I need every tool that I can get when working with my clients. These space nebula jars are calming and soothing and attractive to look at. Not only are these a great therapeutic tool but they’re also inexpensive to make. So if a client is really into one you could give it to them or even set aside some time for you and your client to make one just for them during one of your therapeutic sessions.
This particular space nebula link is fun because she talks about being a teacher and the difference between space nebulas and galaxies in space; and why she chose to call these Space Nebula in a bottle instead of Galaxy. I like her snark and her wit and she clearly has thought through the process of creating this bottle for others to benefit from. She really outlined the learning opportunity as well as the sensory experience.
Space Nebula in a Bottle Bridge Gaps with Sensory Exploration
Oftentimes sensory therapeutic tools such as space nebulas are a way to bridge the gap between clients who are non-verbal or have a difficult time sitting in a session between their therapist and themselves with nothing to focus on or distract them from the conversations that they’re having.
When the clients have somewhere to focus their attention it seems to make it easier for them to converse with you. Especially if the clients are talking about traumatic or unhappy thoughts or feelings.
Everyone experiences their lives through the 5 senses; sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. For children sensory play is a crucial part of their early childhood development. We have seen that all children grow emotionally and physically through sensory exploration.
These experiences spark emotions like joy, stimulate creativity, and fosters cognitive and linguistic development. All the research has shown that children who learn through these 5 senses also learn to have an affinity for them throughout their lives. These kids grow up connected to them and with the world around them.
The Father of Modern Psychology, Sigmund Freud discusses early childhood development with stages such as the “oral stage”, where a child has a compulsion to put everything in their mouths. LITERALLY EVERYTHING
If you have even been around babies and toddlers you see this all the time. toys, paper, edges of their favorite blanket or the neckline of their shirt. They suck their thumb or fingers. It’s all oral. It’s a necessary process ALL young children must work through to continue to foster their personality development and the influencing of positive behaviors later in life. If you want to read more about this check out this site.
I have an entire basket on the floor near the couch that has squishy balls, stress balls, small figurines from the dollar store, nebula in a bottle and other small fun tactile toys that my clients can play with in order for them to feel more comfortable.
You know how we’re always joking about how you can spend hundreds of dollars on toys for your cat and instead all they want to do is play with a ball of tinfoil? Your sensory basket can be looked at in the same way. What might be interesting to one student might not be interesting to another.
On the flip side get creative; repurpose things that you have in your own home; use recycled materials when you can.
You might even ask your clients what kinds of things they like to play with or what kinds of things are soothing to them. I have an old frame that I turned on its back and filled it with sand. It’s mesmerizing to just drag your fingers through it, add rocks and a tiny rake and spend some time making a “zen garden”. There’s so many different things that you could use that would appeal to a wide variety of your clients.
Something else very cool to make is Rainbow Soap Foam
This is absolutely the most fun thing to do and even as adults we are smiling as the soft folds of soapy foam squishing between your fingers. To make this you will need Dawn dish soap and food coloring. You can also use liquid watercolor paint as well. But it’s cheaper to use food coloring. Bottle water is the easiest to make the foam because if your water is too hard or soft it wont work as well. Grab a large bowl or container and take it outside somewhere cuz it’s guaranteed you’re gonna make a mess. Once it’s all put together, sit back and enjoy the messy colorful fun! Here is the recipe for the foam goodness.
- 2 Tbsp. of dish soap – I prefer Dawn. Literally for everything
- 1/4 cup water – use bottled water if your house water is too hard or soft
- An electric hand mixer
- food coloring or liquid watercolors (food coloring can stain things so be careful)
Directions:
In a bowl, add 2 Tbsp of dish soap and 1/4 cup of water. Add food coloring or the liquid watercolors. Mix on the highest possible setting for 1-2 minutes. Your foam should be able to form stiff peaks that hold their shape like when you make meringues. Scoop it out into your large container that you put outside like I told you to and repeat as necessary until you have the desired amount of foam!
If anyone has sensitive skin, use bubble bath instead of dish soap. But, come on, who cannot handle Dawn dish soap? There were commercials with moms washing their babies in the kitchen sink using Dawn when I was a kid.
Don’t use this with kids who are still too young and might put the mixture in their eyes or mouth. It could sting their eyes.
If you would like to see some of the other therapeutic tools that I like to use check out my Pinterest page titled “therapeutic tools” https://www.pinterest.com/mdarenfrow/boards/ and see what you can come up with to make or put in your own sensory basket in your office or play room.
This site is also a cool alternative of some fun sensory stuff for kids. You don’t need to spend a lot of money or buy the most popular items in order to have a successful sensory basket.
Happy playing!