Playing with Essential Oils: Kid-Approved Recipes for Fun!

My motto is definitely along the lines of, "There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing." We spend A LOT of time outside, regardless of whether the sun is shining or not. Nonetheless, I find myself indoors a little bit more than usual during these fall and winter months, which means I've been busting out all the fun tricks to keep the kids entertained inside.

The way we use essential oils is endless. Today I am going to share some of my go-to recipes for play using my favourite oils! Whether it's play dough, slime, or sensory bins, you can always find a way to spruce it up with some oils for the kiddos.

Let's get crafty!

Aromatherapy Play Dough

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup salt

4 teaspoons cream of tartar

2 cups lukewarm water

2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil (coconut oil works too)

Food colouring (optional)

doTERRA oils of your choice (I love using Lavender for the calming effect)

Instructions:

1. Stir together the flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a large pot.

2. Next, add the water and oil. If you’re only making one color, add in the color now as well.

3. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the dough has thickened and begins to form into a ball.

4. Remove from heat and then place inside a gallon-sized bag or onto wax paper.

5. Allow to cool slightly and then knead until smooth.

6. If you’re adding colors after, divide the dough into balls (for how many colors you want) and then add the dough into the quart-sized bags. Start with about 5 drops of color and add more to brighten it. Knead to spend evenly.

7. Do the same with your oils. Start with 5-10 drops and add more if needed. Once it’s all mixed together you’re ready to PLAY.

Store the play dough inside the bags once done to keep soft. Keeps for up to 3+ months.

Trapped Toy Hand Soap

Ingredients:

Small toy that your child would like and that won't get soggy, etc. (I use toy cars, animals, etc.)

Glycerin

Soap mold or silicone muffin cup, reusable snack container, etc. Food colouring/Soap making colouring (optional)

Essential oils

Instructions:

1. The glycerin package will have different instructions depending on what you buy. Follow the instructions, melting a small amount in the microwave or on the stove.

2. Add essential oils and colour

3. Pour the glycerin into the mold, about 1/3 full.

4. Wait 5-10 minutes while the glycerin begins to set.

5. Once partially set, place the toy upside down onto the glycerin.

6. Pour melted glycerin on top of the toy until it is covered and your bar of soap is the dept you want it to be. You will probably have to re-melt the glycerin at this point.

7. Wait 30 minutes for the soap to set and then remove from mold and scrub away!

Calming Glitter Slime (Borax-free!)

Ingredients:

6 oz Elmer’s Glitter Glue

1 1/4 TBSP Contact Solution (must contain boric acid)

1/2 TBSP Baking Soda

3 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

1. Pour glue into a bowl.

2. Add baking soda and lavender essential oil. Mix well with a spatula.

3. Add contact solution and begin mixing with your spatula.

4. Hand mix and knead once your slime starts to take form. It will feel like a gross, snotty mess at first, but this is a good thing! The more you knead it and play with it, the thicker it will become.

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Rainbow Beans Sensory Play

Ingredients:

White Beans

Food colouring

Vinegar

Essential oils

Freezer bag

Sheet pan

Instructions:

1. Split the beans into bags, depending on how many colours you are going to make. Your amount will vary, but around 2 cups of beans into each bag seems to be the right amount.

2. Add 10-15 drops of food colouring to each bag.

3. Add a splash of vinegar (this helps bring out the colour of the dye) and your essential oils. I would recommend choosing two or three different types of oils so it's not too overpowering.

4. Shake, shake, shake those bags to distribute the colour evenly.

5. Spread the beans out on sheet pans to dry. Once dry, pour into your sensory table bins and enjoy!

So there you have it! With so many oils and so many choices, it can get a bit overwhelming. If you'd like to book a FREE one-on-one introduction to oils or a FREE online course, jump on over to my Upcoming Events page for more information!