Summer holidays are here, and for some of us, that means finding new and exciting activities to do with the kids to keep them occupied. So what can we do with essential oils and other aromatics to keep the kids quiet in a safe way. But before we jump into the activities, let’s review what oils are safe to use with children.
What essential oils are safe for children?
In our blog, Essential Oil Safety and Children, we outlined which oils were safe for children. Some oils are too strong to use with children. There are some that are known skin irritants, and some that are not the safest options to kids. However, this list are ones that you can use safely (within the safety guidelines):
- Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)
- Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)
- Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)
- German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
- Lemon (Citrus limon)
- Frankincense (Boswellia serrata)
- Cedarwood (Cedrus deodara)
Playdough
Playdough is such a fun activity, not just the playing with it but also the making of it. Depending on your kids ages, you can get them involved in the making process. There are many recipes available out there on how to make your own Playdough, but we like this simple one best.
What you’ll need:
- 2 cups of flour
- 2 tbsp vegetable Oil
- ⅓ cup of Salt
- 2 tbsp of Cream Of Tartar
- 1 ½ cups of Water (boiling)
- Essential oil
- Food Coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the salt, flour, cream of tartar, and oil together in a big bowl.
- Add the boiling water and keep stirring until it forms a dough.
- Once mixed well, let it cool down before adding the essential oils and food coloring. To mix the oil and coloring, knead the dough until the dye is thoroughly mixed.
- Store in an airtight container
Slime
Slime is fun for all ages. This recipe is a simple one, and you’ll find thousands of different recipes online. You can add glitter.
What you’ll need
- 1 cup of school glue
- 1 tsp of baking soda
- 2-3 tbsps of contact or all-purpose solution
- 2 drops of food coloring
- 2 drops of essential oil
Instructions
- In a glass bowl, mix glue, essential oils and food coloring.
- Next add the baking soda and mix well.
- Add contact solution, one tbsp at a time. Mix well before adding the next tbsp of solution.
- Mix until the slime starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl, when this happens start kneading it in your hands.
- Store in airtight container
Cloud Dough
Not only is this calming and fun, Cloud Dough provides a sensory experience as it is fluffy and soft, but it can still be moulded into shapes.
What you’ll need
- 8 cups of flour
- 1 cup of vegetable oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Food coloring
- Large flat container
Instructions
Add all of the ingredients into a large flat container. Mix until combined then play. Once finished playing, place the cloud dough in an airtight container.
Lip Balm
For the older kids, get them involved in making some balms. It’s easy, fun and something they can use
What you’ll need
- 2 tbsps of beeswax
- 2 tbsps of cocoa butter
- 2 tbsps of coconut oil
- 4 - 5 drops of essential oil
- Small jars or lip balm tins
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients (except essential oils) in a large glass bowl. Fill a pot with water, then set the glass bowl over the top to where it will be partially submerged in the water.
- Melt the ingredients together. Remember to stir often to ensure a smooth consistency
- Once all the ingredients are melted, remove from the heat, add the Vanilla oil, and mix well. It is important to work quickly as the mixture will harden once it has been removed from the heat.
- Pour mixture into small jars or tins, and allow to cool. It will take the mixture a few hours to harden completely before use.
In closing
Keeping the kids occupied and quiet during the summer holidays isn’t easy, but hopefully you can create fun memories with these activities. They can keep the kids occupied for hours. We’ve given you some simple suggestions to try, but get your creative mind going. You might want to add lavender buds or rose petals into mix. The possibilities are endless.
