Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling or friend, chances are you’ve noticed how the children in your life enjoy getting the green light to get their little hands messy. You might even remember this thrill from your own childhood! Do you know how dōTERRA essential oils can easily be incorporated into hands-on sensory activities? Try these two do-it-yourself recipes, and invite the little ones in your life to join you! One thing to remember: encourage children to avoid touching the eye area with essential oils on their hands.
Sensory Play Dough
1 cup flour
¼ cup salt
1 tablespoon cream of tartar
½ cup warm water
5 drops dōTERRA Lemon essential oil
Food coloring (optional)
Glitter (optional)
Mix flour, salt, and cream of tartar. Add water, essential oil, and food coloring. Mix well. Add glitter. Store in zip-lock bags. Reuse as desired. (Recipe from The Essential Life)
*Tip: Consider incorporating a few drops of dōTERRA Lavender essential oil into the sensory dough for its calming, restful effects. Try as a pre-nap activity or for a soothing distraction on a fussy afternoon.
Homemade Mints
1 package gum paste (found with cake decorating supplies)
¼ cup powdered sugar
6 drops doTERRA Peppermint, Cinnamon, or Lemon essential oil (add more for stronger flavor)
Food coloring (optional)
Plastic straw
Pull off an egg-sized section of gum paste and knead it until soft. Add your chosen essential oil and a tiny bit of food coloring. Knead again, and roll out with a rolling pin. Using the end of the straw, punch out shapes and roll in powdered sugar. This reduces sticking. Dry for 48 hours. Place mints in a decorative tin with lid. (Recipe from The Essential Life)
There you have it, two recipes for incorporating dōTERRA essential oils into hands-on, kid-friendly activities! You may find your creations so enjoyable that you want to give some away as gifts. With dōTERRA, aromatherapy and sticky fingers can go hand-in hand.