Many of us have children with sensitive constitutions. My children are allergic to many foods and chemicals. This makes life difficult as a home schooler. We try to do an art project a day, but many products contain irritants. So, instead of stifling my boys’ artistic urges, I found same ways to make art supplies that won’t irritate their sensitive skin.
Bath Soap Crayons:
Supplies: 1 bar hypo-allergenic soap (I like plain old Ivory, but any soap their skin can handle and is white, will be fine); 1/4 cup warm water; food coloring; small moon & stars cookie cutters -or- any plastic candy mold (again you can get creative with the cookie cutters and make them any shape you want)
*Note: For making multiple colors you’ll want to get the kids and maybe even your significant other to help, as the mixture will need to be stirred until it hardens.
Procedure: Grate the soap until it’s finely shredded. Mix in the warm water. Separate into as many small bowl as colors you wish to make (so if you want to make 6 colors of crayons, use 6 bowls) Place a few drops of food coloring into each bowl until desired color is achieved. Stir until the mixture hardens. Remove from bowl and kneed on a flat surface until it thickens into a thick dough. Spoon dough into the mold or cookie cutter. Use your fingers to press(to get rid of air bubbles. Place mold into the freezer for about 10 minutes or fridge until 30 minutes – or until firm. Pop crayons onto a plate, let air dry overnight.
Home-Made Play Dough: (courtesy of my mom)
Supplies: 1 cup of flour; 1/2 cup of salt; 1 cup cool water; 2 Tbs oil; 2 Tbs cream of tartar; Wax paper
Procedure: Stir together flour, cream of tartar, salt and oil. Slowly mix in the water. Cook over medium heat stirring frequently until dough becomes stiff. Spread onto wax paper and let cool. Kneed dough with your hands until it reaches the desired consistency.
Note: You can add a few drops of color after you stir in the water (over the heat) to get colored dough. Get creative…you can mix 1/4 cup fruit juices with 2 cups of water, or you can add the juice from canned beets (straight instead of water). For browns you can use tea, for yellow you can mix turmeric with a little bit of water to make a paste. Once your dough is prepared, you can kneed in the colors.
Finger Paints:
This is especially important as most children will eventually taste the paint as an experiment.
Supplies. 1 cup cornstarch; 1 cup water; 1 bar hypo-allergenic soap (again white is advisable and I usually use Ivory); food stuff dyes.
Procedure: Grate bar of soap until it is in fine shreds. Melt with 1/2 cup water over med heat. In a bowl combine cornstarch, 1/2 cup water, and melted soap mixture. Stir to blend. Let mixture sit and thicken. Divide into as many separate bowls as you want colors (so for 6 colors, use 6 bowls) Stir in ‘colors”
For colors: Get creative…you can mix 1/4 cup fruit juices with 2 cups of water, or you can add the juice from canned beets (straight instead of water). For browns you can use tea, for yellow you can mix turmeric with a little bit of water to make a paste. Once your dough is prepared, you can kneed in the colors.
NOTE: For thicker consistency paint: Mix 1 packet of gelatin with 1/4 cup of water. Add to the cornstarch, water and melted soap mixture.
