Host a super fun, messy, gooey spa day for your little ones and their friends.

Perfect for a hot summer day!

This is a great way for kids to explore using natural materials to care for their bodies while providing a fun activity filled with tactile, creative opportunities.

~ Materials* ~

Feel free to use any combination of the items below to create your own customized special day!

Kiddie Pool, this will be like a big bath tub!
Sprinkler
Clays ~ I like to use rose, french green and kaolin clays. You really only need one clay but it is fun to have several different options with all the pretty colors to choose from.
Avocado ~ smashed up
Fruit Slices ~ I usually get whatever is on sale or in season. What you want here are slices of fruit high in alpha hydroxy acids which help exfoliate the skin removing dead skin cells. Sure, there aren’t many kids that will benefit from this action but knowing about it and feeling the effects of the fruit on their skin, that’s pretty cool. Good choices are apples, grapes, strawberries, oranges and even lemons. (I would be careful about giving little ones lemons to use though because they might get the juice in their eyes!)
Cucumber Slices, kids think it is super silly that people put these on their eyes!
Bowl for Discards
Stuff For An Herbal Bath ~ roses, lavender, chamomile, mints, calendula etc…. Also, epsom salts, oatmeal and essential oils like lavender, rosemary, rose geranium etc… And cloth (with a band to tie it shut) or sock for making a bath.
Aromatherapy Spritzer
Corn Starch

* Find all the materials you need at Mountain Rose Herbs (affiliate link) and support Mama Rosemary at the same time!

~ Instructions ~

Fill the kiddie pool with water. Place bowls with fruit, avocado and cucumbers outside on a table that is easy for the kids to get too. You might want to put the table in the grass. It is going to get really messy and the stuff that falls on the ground can become food for you lawn instead of a big mess on your patio! Mix the clays with enough water to make a paste and put the clay on the table too. Put your discard bowl under the table Make sure you have your spritzer and cornstarch handy.

Get all of your bath ingredients setup over by the kiddie pool. Then when you are ready bring the kids over and make an herbal bath with them. I usually start this off by talking with them about the benefits of an oatmeal bath while I put the oatmeal in the sock (or cloth). I make sure to tell them about how the oatmeal makes a slimy goo when you squeeze the bundle we are making. Next we add some epsom salt. Then show the kids all the beautiful herbs you have to add to the bath and ask the each to choose one herb they would like to add. Give them each a handful to toss into the tub. Next add a couple drops of essential oil, using a total of 5 to 8 drops at most.

Next take the kiddos over to your spa table where all you fruits, clay and so on are set up. And tell them all about how to use these fun substances.

The avocado is oily and nourishes the skin
Hydroxy acids in the fruit help exfoliate the skin
The clays help to nourish and tighten the skin
Cucumber slices on the eye reduce puffiness and refresh the eyes

The kids can use these to make art on their bodies too, making little patterns and drawings! A couple of cautions: If you have young kids, be sure to tell them not to eat the fruits and veggies. Explain that after a piece of fruit or cucumber is used it should be placed in the discard bowl and not back with the fresh pieces of fruit/cucumber. Finally I always tell the kids not to put any clay around or above their eyes because when it dries, they clay begins to flake and gets into their eyes. Trust me, this freaks them out.

Then let the fun begin! Turn the kids loose! Turn on the sprinkler if you have one. If you want, you can walk around with the spritzer and spray it above the kids occasionally.

Finally, when the kids get tired of all the spa day activities, finish up with cornstarch foot rubs. The kids always love these. Just have them grab a seat and give them little handfuls of corn starch to rub on their feet. The corn starch is silky and cooling, and of course messy!

Thanks for reading about how to host your own spa day.

It is so much fun and I hope you will consider giving it a try!

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Please Note: This post contains affiliate links to Mountain Rose Herbs. Mountain Rose Herbs offers the best quality bulk herbs and supplies online. If you choose to use my affiliate link to purchase from them you will be supporting Mama Rosemary and all I do here. I get will get a small commission price however this does not in any way effect your purchase price. Thanks for supporting Mama Rosemary and happy herb crafting!

Shared On: The Weekly Kid's Co-op, Wellness Wednesday, Natural Family Friday, Toddler & Preschool Moms, Thoughtful Spot