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Make a Mind Jar

What’s a mind jar?

A mind jar is a simple mindfulness tool designed to help children (and adults) visualise their thoughts and emotions, promoting emotional regulation and calmness.

It’s a clear jar or bottle filled with water, glitter, and glue (or glycerin) that, when shaken, creates a swirling effect. Just like the glitter in the jar eventually settles, you can explain how mindful breathing helps swirling thoughts and feelings settle.

Making a mind jar can support children by providing something concrete and beautiful for their minds to focus on and provides them with a device to practise mindfulness whenever it’s needed.

Things you will need:

Glass jar with a lid that seals tightly.
Glitter – two or three different sizes of glitter if possible, in as many colours as you like.
Two tubes of glitter glue – Don’t skip this ingredient! The glue is vital because it’s a thickening agent so that the glitter swirls around the jar before settling down.
A kettle of boiling water
A stick or small whisk for stirring
A sheet or two of newspaper
Food colouring (optional)

Instructions:

1. Place the jar on the newspaper pour in boiling water until it is about 1⁄4 full.
2. Squeeze in the two tubes of glitter glue, and use your stick or whisk to stir until it’s all dissolved.
3. Pour more boiling water until the jar is about 3⁄4 full.
4. Now add glitter, one colour at a time.
5. Stir again!
6. Add a few drops of the food colouring if you’re using it, stir again.
7. Fill the jar with water right up to the top, then stir once more and leave to cool down. When it’s cold, screw the lid on tightly and ta-da! You’ve made a mind jar.

Shake it up!

When the mind jar is finished, shake it up. See how the glitter is like a storm of different things swirling around in the jar, like thoughts and feelings and sensations are?

When our minds are stormy like the glitter in the jar and we don’t feel present in our bodies, it can be hard to pay attention and make kind and thoughtful choices about how to respond to the things or people that have upset or worried us.

After shaking the jar, place the jar on a table and sit or lie quietly, noticing as the glitter in the jar settles down on its own. Practise your mindful breathing while you watch.