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No-Cook Play Dough With a Relaxing Twist

Thanks to Parents As Teachers for the Inspiration

By Julie Follansbee January 15, 2015
When kids are under the weather, it can be a challenge to find an activity that can help soothe them yet inspire imaginative play without exhausting them.
Add to that that because they aren't feeling well, you can't just run out and buy new supplies.

Here is one activity that fits that bill. Using common ingredients most folks have around the house, you and your child can put this together in just a few minutes and play for hours. The fragrance* of the finished play dough adds a relaxing element that can aid congestion.

*We've offered 2 options. The Vicks is a decades old staple in the fight against colds and many of us have grown up with it. The Honest Company Breathe Easy Rub is an all natural alternative. Both contain eucalyptus.

This project is just one of many activities that Parents As Teachers shares with parents in their program. We used the basic recipe from their curriculum and added the fragrance.

Thanks to Lauren Lazzari for checking with the Poison Control Center about using either Vicks or the Breathe Easy in this recipe. Their response was that they don't condone using food items for play items but if a child ingested a large quantity of either item they would probably evoke a laxative affect. The Honest Company felt there was no danger in using their product for this activity. We took those answers into account and proceeded with our decision to make this because we used such a tiny amount of product.

**This activity is designed for children over 2 years of age. Please read the link at the bottom of this article.

You'll Need:

1/2 cup of salt
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup of water
Either Vicks VapoRub or The Honest Company Breathe Easy Rub

Optional Ingredients: 
Food coloring
Glitter (reminds kids that this is NOT to be eaten).

Combine the first three ingredients. If it's too dry add more water, too wet, add a bit more flour. At the end, add a TEENY bit-barely any of either the Breathe Easy Rub or the Vicks. A little goes a long way. We used the Breathe Easy.

Let kids play.

The house was filled with the fresh scent of eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and tea tree! Maggi said that it was so relaxing and that she couldn't believe they made it themselves.

More about Parents As Teachers  fACEBOOK

**The Vicks VapoRub debate.



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