Guest Blogger: Sage Dalton, Mother & Maternity RN
I got interested in essential oils while I was pregnant. Learning about the ways it could help me during pregnancy and labor. I was also excited about ways I could use them to swap out things in my home for healthier options. Now, I love the way oils help me in so many aspects of my life – sleep, mothering, energy, exercise, emotions, I could go on!
I’m excited to share 2 recipes with you today, for aromatherapy playdough and slime. Both of these are great sensory activities. Using essential oils adds additional aromatherapy benefits. Sensory play has many benefits for kids. It builds nerve connections in the brain, supports language development, cognitive grown, gross & fine motor skills, problem-solving, imagination & social interaction. Sensory play is great for an anxious child or a child with special needs.
Benefits of Essential Oils
- Reach every cell in your body within 20 minutes when applied topically
- Help eliminate toxins in your body
- Help support the different systems of the body: digestive, nervous, muscular, immune, and more.
- Promote cellular regeneration
- Work on emotions via the limbic system of your brain
- Promote healthy emotional wellness and relax and clear the mind
- Transport nutrients
- Powerful antioxidants
- Remove toxins in the air
- A great alternative to chemical or toxic fragrances
Some oils that help promote a calm environment and provide emotional support are Lavender, Frankincense, Bergamot, Peace & Calming, Stress Away. These would all be great choices for making aromatherapy slime and playdough. When I do this activity with kids, I offer an array of oils and let them pick the scents they wanted. They really enjoyed this part, getting to smell all the bottles and make their own unique batches of dough and slime.
Recipe for Aromatherapy Playdough
- 2 Cups Flour
- ½ Cup Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Cream of Tartar
- 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
- 10-12 Drops Essential Oil
- 1.5 Cups Boiling Water
- Food Coloring (Optional)
Directions:
- Mix the Flour, Salt, Cream of Tartar in a large bowl
- Combine the essential oil with vegetable oil and mix into the dry ingredients
- Add boiling water slowly until you reach desired consistency
- Knead for 3-5 minutes
- Enjoy! Store in an airtight container when not in use.
To make multiple scents/colors from one batch, mix all ingredients together except for essential oil and food coloring. Knead together until smooth, divide into smaller chunks and then add a few drops of oil & food coloring to these smaller pieces. Knead oil & food coloring into dough until even throughout (warning – this will give you rainbow hands if using food coloring, gloves are advised).
Aromatherapy Slime
- Elmer’s Glitter Glue (or regular glue)
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 4-6 Drops Essential Oil
- Contact Lens Solution
Directions:
- Pour glue into a glass mixing bowl
- Add basking soda & mix with a plastic spoon
- Slowly add contact lens solution one tablespoon at a time
- Continue mixing until it is smooth and no longer sticking to the bowl. You can add more contact lens solution if needed
- Add Essential Oils and kneed in with your hands
- Enjoy! Store in an airtight container when not in use.
If you have questions about the post or essential oils, in general, I’d love to connect with you. My email is sagedaltonessentilas@gmail.com I’d love to help you get your hands on the best essential oils on the market to use in your home, with your family, or in your work! You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook.
