As we enter the month of December it is time to think about winter, sparkle, and Christmas.  Our first project for December is all about sparkle! This month we are going to take a look at Sensory Experiences that connect to this time of year and our very first is a sparkly experience with a base of Epsom Salt.

Epsom Salt Tubs

The use of Epsom salt as a tub base creates a beautiful sparkly backdrop. It has a natural sparkle and works well as a foundation for jewels, or as pretend snow for seasonal play. Adding an essential oil for scent works well and incorporates easily. Cooking extracts are readily available and also add wonderful scents. When using an extract for scent, you will want to add a few drops, mix it well, and then let it dry prior to using the sensory tub, due to the fact that it makes the salt more wet than an oil based scent.

Using tweezers encourages fine motor skills practice along with the sensory experience. Montessori sensorial activities such as this can also include the early math skill of sorting. Children could use the materials in this example to sort by colors or shapes.

Other theming activities for the Epson salt box include using it as pretend ice while adding polar bears, penguins, or other animal figures to the polar habitat. It is also a great base for Christmas and holiday backdrops.

After playing, the base materials can be used to create scented bath salts. Remove all of the jewels and simply add a few drops of food coloring and some scent from extracts or a couple of drops of an essential oil. The salt can then be used at home in the bath tub for a fun and relaxing sensory bath.

You can find many more activities in the book which is available at Amazon.com. Direct links to all of the books are on the page labeled “Dr. Andrea’s Books.”