One of my favorite things to do with kiddos is to make homemade play-doh.  It feels so good on my hands and we get a huge ball of it this way.  I like to add texture, color, a little sparkle, essential oils, and dried rose petals.  The children were playing with the lavender play-doh today and it was so calming.  My friend suggested having it be a nighttime activity to calm everyone down before bed.  Good idea.  I gifted my daughter’s friend some to take home and it was definitely a special treat!!!

Lavender play-doh recipe:

2 C flour

2 C water

1/2 C salt

2 Tbs. Coconut oil

3 Tbs. Cream of tartar

6 drops of essential oil

3-6 drops of food coloring – whatever gets it to the desired color and scent.

Dried rose petals – enough to add texture and make it sweet, but not so much that it interferes with rolling it out.

Glitter to your hearts content

Preparing the play-doh:

I mixed all ingredients except the oil and color (which I did last, while semi cool).  Cook it on medium heat in a sauce pan until it balls up and comes clear off the sides of the pan.  It will be thick and one huge ball.  Then let it cool down.

Knead it and drop your color and oils and everything else in and just keep kneading it.  This recipe didn’t need flour to roll it out; it wasn’t sticky.  I love it!

NOTE: for fun Valentine’s Day ideas do rose essential oil and dried rose petals, and glitter with pink food coloring.  How darling.  Bag it up in an air tight bag and gift it to little ones!  Even this lavender one seemed like a Valentine’s Day kinda thing since it had flowers in it, and smelled so nice.

Have fun creating with your little one!  Make some play-doh heart cakes and enjoy the wonderful scents as you work!