from Tomorrow’s Child Magazine – May, 2021 | by The Montessori Foundation
A conversation with Naralys Sinanis
Imagine a walk in the woods, fresh air brushing against your skin, your hair blowing in the wind, and the crunching sound of the beaten path beneath your feet, creating the syncopated tune you are walking to.
This is what being one with nature feels and sounds like. It is also the type of self-care we are hearing more about these days: spending time outdoors. Thankfully, this is also easily achievable with children. A hike in the woods counts as both quality exercise and self-care time.
But what about other opportunities for self-care intended specifically for children?
Naralys Sinanis, founder of Ready To Unwind, has not only been setting time aside for nature hikes with her children, she is also committed to providing time for her girls to enjoy some indoor pampering time as well. By using household ingredients, Naralys and her children have made salt scrubs for indulgent hand massages and enjoyed relaxing foot soaks, using aromatherapeutic oils. This mom of two vibrant girls (ages 1 and 5) invites her daughters to join by sharing with them what they will be making and, more importantly, telling them why:
I start by saying, “We’re making bath soaks using salt and oils. These will help us relax when we are in the bath. Sometimes you can buy these in the store, but we can make it ourselves at home too.”
She explains the procedure by printing out the recipe and reading it together with her young girls. They gather all the materials and ingredients in a safe and open space, where all three have plenty of room to move around, and potential spills won’t damage any furniture or rugs. She is also very clear about safety:
I tell the girls that we are doing a fun science activity, but that we need to be safe. Then I ask them: “What do you think we should do to be safe?” and listen to their responses. They are usually pretty good answers! Then I explain: “Today we can touch and smell things, but we shouldn’t put anything in our eyes or drink the oils even if they smell yummy.
We then have a sensory experience with the ingredients. I invite the girls to smell the oils carefully, without getting too close when they inhale, and ask them how the oil makes them feel. I let them choose which oil they want to incorporate into what we are making. My daughter Analia, for example, loves the smell of the orange essential oil and says it makes her feel happy.
The girls also experiment with touching the salt with their hands, and even grinding the salt if they choose to. They stir and mix everything together. Sometimes, they want to touch the oils as well, so I explain that essential oils are potent and some are not ideal to use topically unless diluted with a carrier oil like almond or coconut. It’s part of understanding the safety aspect of the ingredients we are working with.
In this way, Naralys and her children enjoy hands-on interaction with materials and in-gredients of different textures and smells, and practice skills like scooping, pouring and mixing. Parents can use this preparation time to embed math and science concepts such as measuring and making observations as well.
This engaging and authentic learning experience ends with a relaxing reward: the children indulging in their creation and learning how to engage in self-care.
Recipe for Bath/Foot Soak:
- 3 cups of Epsom salt
- 1 cup of sea salt (can use pink Himalayan or finely ground sea salt.) If the salt has not already been ground, this can be an opportunity for the kids to grind it with mortar and pestle or a blender.
- 6 drops of essential oil (any scent that suits your mood).
- Lavender/ lemon or eucalyptus is good for relaxation/stress relief, while orange, peppermint, or tea tree can be more energizing.
- Additionally, you can also make your own blend with one or more oils (lavender-vanilla, lemon-orange, etc.)
- 6 drops of sweet almond oil. This is an important ‘carrier’ oil; coconut oil may be used as well.
Materials:
- Large mixing bowl
- Large wooden spoon
- Measuring cup
Towels/paper towels to clean up any spills or messes - Storage container for the mixture (e.g..mason jars)
Instructions:
Combine the sea salt and Epsom salt in a bowl and stir with spoon to mix together. Once the salts are mixed, add the essential oil, the almond oil, and stir again until well combined. If there are any clumps, you can break them up or have the kids break them up. Let the mixture rest for about an hour (you can cover it with a towel). When you are ready to use for a bath or a foot soak you can add 1/2 cup to 1 cup into warm water and allow it to dissolve. It may be stored in an airtight container for about 1-2 months.
Other options:
You can switch out almond oil for any other carrier oil. You can add tea from a tea bag (cut the tea bag and empty the contents into the mixing bowl before adding oils), or include dried lavender or other dried flowers/herbs.
Disclaimer:
Please consult with a doctor or physician prior to trying any at-home recipes with young children. Certain ingredients may trigger potential allergies and/or reactions. When implementing this or other similar recipes, be sure to follow all safety precautions..
For more ideas, follow Ready to Unwind on Instagram.
