Roses symbolize love, friendship and beauty.

The amazing aroma of rose is certainly special and has been used by humanity through the ages. The scent opens the heart while uplifting the nervous system easing depression and grief. Valentine's Day offers the perfect chance to explore this amazing plant. We are having a rose party to celebrate at the preschool this year. To provide the children with a chance to really explore roses we are going to provide them with a variety of activities.

Rose Tea

Tea made from organic rose petals is delightfully delicious and healthful. Roses benefit the respiratory and digestive systems enhancing their function, relieving inflammation and heat as well as helping to ease infections. Because of rose's uplifting action, the tea is calming and eases emotional irritability. I have found that most children love the taste of rose tea.

To make simply steep organic dried rose petals in just boiled water for 10 to 15 minutes using about a tablespoon per cup of water. Sometimes I add a tidge of agave syrup or honey to the tea.

Rose Paint

For this activity I am planning to use this recipe from Mommy Nature and then I am going to tweak to fit our needs.

2 cups flour
2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups cold water
2 cups hot water

Mix the flour and salt. Add cold water. Beat until smooth and gradually add hot water. Boil. Beat until smooth.

Then to make rose paint I will add crushed rose petals and a bit of beet powder to enhance the color.

Rose Playdough

This is easy! Just add rose petals, dried or fresh, to your favorite playdough recipe. You can further enhance the rose scent by using rose water or rose tea in place of the regular water when making your playdough. I also like to add glitter and beet powder to the playdough to make it sparkly red! Or you can add cocoa powder for coloring and make chocolate rose playdough, yum!!

Check out my playdough post for complete instructions!

Rose Sensory Table

I think it would be fun to set up a bin with fresh roses and leaves (no thorns please!) for the kids to feel and smell fresh roses. Silky soft and fragrant, um.... We will add some cups and things for sifting through the loveliness.

Stay posted for pictures, as I make these things for our party I will add pictures and of course, I will get some action shots from the big day!
Update on those pictures.... well, I forgot my camera and didn't get a single picture!! So bummed....

Shared On: The Kid's Co-op, It's Playtime!, Kid's Get Crafty, Share It Saturday