Have you ever heard of the calming jar ? It is a particular accessory that is inspired by the famous Montessori method, and that is recommended to bring children back to a state of greater relaxation and calm, especially after they have spent a period of crying, annoyance, arguments with parents or friends and, more generally, any condition of disturbance.
In short, as the name of this extraordinary product suggests, the calm down jar helps children to regain their calm, and to prepare them to listen to what their parent has to say (the same is true, in a certain sense, when the one speaking to the child is another adult with the same authority, such as the teacher).
Even more generally, we can certainly say that the calm jar can be very useful when the child has lost his emotional balance, appears particularly upset, and you want to help him calm down quickly, supporting him in finding the right serenity.
All of this, according to the unfailing followers of the qualities of the calm jar, happens through the use of a special jar full of colored glitter, which can be shaken to create a fantastic image, with many small bright glitter that slowly settle to the bottom.
Thanks to this simple accessory, therefore, the child can be brought back to calm by focusing all his attention on the present.
According to some experts, in order to maximize the benefits of the calming jar, it could be useful to induce the child to take a few deep breaths when observing the magic of the calm jar . Once brought back to a state of emotional balance, the child will certainly be more inclined to talk to you about the problems he has had and the reasons behind this behavior full of anger and frustration.
But how do you make a calm down jar at home ?
Luckily for you, the instructions that will allow you to make a calm down jar at home are simple and practical, and will allow you to obtain a fantastic finished result in just a few minutes.
You can therefore have fun – perhaps together with your child – making a fantastic DIY calming jar, avoiding having to buy it in a shop (although, presumably, if you want a higher quality job you will probably have to go to your trusted shop!).
How to Build the Calm Down Jar
Having introduced the above, we remind you that in order to build the calm jar , as inspired by the well-known Montessori method, you will need some ingredients.
First, try to get a glass jar with a lid. The size can be up to you and your discretion, but we still recommend that you do not use a jar that is too small, because in that case the visual effect induced by the glitter could be limited and not particularly effective.
In addition to this, get some glitter glue . You can commonly find it in many DIY products and in well-stocked supermarkets, where you can find everything you need for drawings and other artistic creations. Also get (you should find them in the same section) some teaspoons of glitter. In terms of proportions, for every 2 tablespoons of glitter glue, you will need 4 teaspoons of glitter. Finally, also get some drops of food coloring, which you can find in the section of the supermarket dedicated to sweets & co., and a container with hot water.
Once you have gathered all the necessary materials, you are ready to proceed further with the realization of our fantastic experiment. But how?
Take the jar and fill it with hot water and the glitter glue that you have acquired. Mix carefully, so that the glitter can gradually disperse in the water. Then, add the glitter and continue mixing carefully, arming yourself with a little patience. While doing this, also add some food coloring and, finally, screw the lid on the jar very tightly.
In doing so, you will notice that there is no precise quantitative balance. Therefore, adjust as you add the ingredients until you get the desired result.
What colors to use for the calm jar
Even though, as above, we have made it clear that in reality the formulation of the calm jar can only be inspired by your choices and preferences, there are still some tips that we suggest you take into consideration.
In particular, given that the goal of the calm jar is to inspire relaxation, remember that the colors that work best in this regard are definitely blue and shades of light blue . Therefore, it might be a good idea to opt for the purchase of products that are inspired by these colors in order to create your calm jar.
Of course, nothing stops you from using other colors, especially if you think that your child will get the best satisfaction from other shades that you have already understood work well as “inspiration”.
Conclusions
At this point in our study, you should have all the most useful information to be able to build your calm jar completely independently. Also consider whether to involve your child in the creation of this accessory, or whether it is preferable to build it alone, avoiding revealing the mystery behind its creation.
