Scented Sensory Play for Kids – Made EASY!

The Benefits of Scented Sensory Play…

There are SO MANY benefits of sensory play for kids:

From exposure to different textures to practicing important fine motor and gross motor skills.

From practicing problem solving skills to encouraging communication with others.

And of course – for regulating their complex sensory systems (which is especially helpful for children like mine with Sensory Processing Disorder).

You’re probably already doing some sensory play with your child, even if you don’t realize it.  Does your child love playing in the sand box in the backyard?  Or splashing in the bubbly kitchen sink while you cook dinner?  Yep.  All sensory!

So don’t be intimidated by sensory play.  It’s easy and fun!  

And I’m going to show you just how easy today.  And I’m even hoping to encourage you to try adding an olfactory element – SCENT!

Scented sensory play can be especially helpful in regulating a child’s sensory systems, emotions, and moods.  And the perfect way to add scent to sensory play is with Essential Oils.

Here is how to get started with Scented Sensory Play…

This post contains affiliate links.  Which just means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will receive a small percentage of the sale – without your price being any higher!  Thank you for your continued support.  For more information, see my disclosure policy.

Scented Sensory Play for Kids: A Step-By-Step Guide:

1. Purchase Your Essential Oils – This Young Living Premium Starter Kit is an affordable way to get a nice collection of essential oils to use in sensory play.  It includes Young Living’s Everyday Oils Collection which consists of (10) 5ml bottles of their most popular essential oils and blends.  (Plus a home diffuser that diffuses essential oils into the air of your home, a roller ball you can put on any of the bottles, some samples of other essential oils, and all of the books and educational materials you will need to get started!)
2. Read About Safety – Take some time while you’re waiting for your kit to arrive to familiarize yourself with the safety of essential oils.  There are some safety resources in this post that might help.  Another trusted resource for essential oils safety with children in the book Gentle Babies: Essential Oils and Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Childbirth, Infants, and Young Children.  However, keep in mind that while it is generally advised to dilute essential oils with a carrier oil (like fractionated coconut oil) when using them with children, adding essential oils to sensory materials generally distributes them effectively so dilution is not required.
3. Keep Oil Info Handy – The many oils in the starter kit  and their varied uses and safety concerns can seem overwhelming.  Organize the information in a convenient way for you. Make a special folder for bookmarking helpful internet resources (like this one – *wink*).  Download the Reference Guide for Essential Oils app on your iPhone.
4. Focus on a Certain Mood or Emotion – Use your printed cheat sheet and choose one or two moods or emotions that you want to promote at a time.  For example:  Lavender is believed to induce relaxation and promote better sleep; Lemon is thought to be stimulating and uplifting; and Young Living’s Stress Away blend is believed to calm overactive children.  Find what oils and sensory play materials work for them before moving on to another oil or issue.
5. Choose Your Sensory Play Materials – Think also about what sensory play material would encourage that mood or emotion in your child.  Does your child calm down after smashing and kneading playdough or is she soothed when running her fingers through a bin of dried rice?
6. Add a Drop or Two at a Time – Young Living Essential Oils are more powerful than you might imagine.  Start by adding just one drop at a time before adding more.  Essential Oils can be added to homemade playdough and slimes while your making it or kneaded into store-bought playdough and slimes, too.  Just make sure when kneading or mixing oils in that they are diluted and do not directly touch a child’s skin before mixing.
7. Monitor Your Child – As with any sensory play, it’s important to monitor your child.  But especially so when using Essential Oils.  Observe their reactions, both physical and emotional, and discontinue use if you notice anything disconcerting.  And take notes in an Essential Oils “Recipe Book” of any positive responses, too!
8. Add a Couple New Oils Every Month – Do some research in your kit’s Reference Book about what oils you’d like to try next.  (Cedarwood, Valor and Vetiver are popular oils for “Sensory Kids”!)  Consider signing up for the Young Living Essential Rewards Program to get affordable oils each month and points toward free oils, too!  Contact me for more information about Essential Rewards.

Popular Scented Sensory Play Ideas Using Essential Oils:

    

    

So what are you waiting for, Mama?  Join the essential oil fun with me today!

New to Essential Oils?  Feel too busy, too overwhelmed, too anxious, (too broke!) to try Essential Oils?  The Oil Explorers Team have your back; check out our Getting Started with Essential Oils Guide with articles from popular blogging mamas about how to EASILY get started with Essential Oils.

*Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on this website.

This post contains affiliate links.  Which just means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will receive a small percentage of the sale – without your price being any higher!  Thank you for your continued support.  For more information, see my disclosure policy.