Pampering Made Simple

I love a hand painted mug as much as the next mom, especially if my child painted it, but this year I wanted to try something new for Mother's Day. So today we are making a spa treat for mom, a salt scrub! I've been using this one we made for a week and it's divine. FamilyEd038.jpg Kids learn using all their senses and this activity uses all five! Well, it doesn't have to involve taste but if you are doing this with a toddler it probably will. It did at my house. 1.Gather your materials. You will need Kosher Salt ( table salt will work but kosher salt is coarser and better for exfoliation), canola oil, an empty jar with lid, a mixing bowl, a 1/4 cup measuring cup, spoon, mail labels and markers. * Food Coloring and essential oils are optional. FamilyEd032.jpg2.Start by measuring out 1 cup of kosher salt into the bowl. Give your child time to play with it, feeling the coarse texture and scooping and pouring it. Squish it between your hands and ask if your child can hear it, what sort of sound does it make? My son tasted it here and regretted it, but because it's just salt, it's perfectly safe. 3.Next add in food color if you want.Mix it well, it takes time for the darker clumps to fade,but they will. We used just a few drops and it left no residue on me or my shower when I tested it. You can also divide the salt into 2 or more bowls and make multiple colors.FamilyEd047.jpg4.Add in 3/4 cups of the oil. This was the consistency I found to work the best. Adjust to your liking. Allow your child to stir, kneed and mush it between their fingers. Ask them if it feels and sounds different now that the oil has been mixed in. FamilyEd034.jpg5.Add in the essential oil now if desired. I didn't allow my son to help with this. Essential oils can be irritating when they are not diluted. It's best for this step to be done by an adult only. I had my son smell ours and try to guess the scent, he was bang on , oranges. 6.Grab the mail labels and markers,have your child decorate them. Let them draw whatever they want. For little guys like my 2 year old give them a sheet of a few labels, one by itself is too small for many toddlers to draw on without frustration setting in. FamilyEd049.jpg7.Add a title for the label if your child is too young to do it themselves. 8.Pop the label on and screw on the top. Don't forget to give mom some uninterrupted time to enjoy this Mother's Day gift .
Tags