Eco-friendly, DIY activities to do with your child
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
At Mighty Oaks, we pride ourselves on our eco policy of using only organic and natural products wherever possible and encourage our learners to upcycle old materials, plastic bottles, shoeboxes, into crafts which we then use to decorate our school. This eco philosophy is important to instill in young children and we believe kids are never too young to recycle, reuse, reduce their waste, but we also want them to think mindfully about the things they already have. Can broken things be fixed or mended, can vegetable scraps be saved and given new life by replanting, can bath water be used to water house plants, etc.? Here are five cool DIY activities that can be done in a weekend with your little ones!
Shoebox mansion
Have a stack of shoeboxes and don’t want to throw them away? We LOVE this beautiful doll’s house by the Art Bar Blog (https://www.artbarblog.com/shoebox-mansion/). Shoeboxes can be lined with scrap paper or wrapping paper, kids’ drawings etc (a great way to use up all your little artist’s work!) and painted to create a unique toy house. Go a step further and create a village, complete with bakery, doctor’s offices, fire station, as well!
Toy storage / car garage
Wondering what to do with toilet rolls? Make this easy and stackable toy storage with some glue and toilet rolls cut in half. If your little one is obsessed with cars, this makes the perfect garage!
Homemade, all natural bubble bath
Which kid doesn’t love a good bubble bath? This natural bubble bath is not only fun to play with but incredibly moisturising on your skin.
• 2 cups of Castile Soap (Dr Bronner’s Brand)
• 2/3 cup of Vegetable Glycerin (can be found at health food stores or on Amazon)
• 2 TBSP of Distilled Water
• Lavender Essential Oil
• Cedarwood Essential Oil
• Measuring Cup
• Empty Bottle
Add 15 drops of Lavender essential oil and 15 drops of Cedarwood essential oil. These two oils are safe for children and have a bonus calming and soothing effect making them perfect for a night time bath! Once you have added the essential oils, give a quick shake and it’s ready to use! This recipe makes enough for 3-4 baths, with about 1/2 a cup for a bath. You can add less or more depending on the tub size/the amount of water during their bath.
Make some edible play dough!
We think this recipe by This Mom Life by Rosie is a delicious and fun way to keep kids busy on a rainy day. Marshmallow play dough is the perfect mix of creativity and messy play. The best part is they can eat it!
DIY Natural Face Paint
Fun events like birthday parties and Halloween aren’t supposed to put children at risk for lead exposure. Yet that’s exactly what happens when we use some brands of commercially available face paint. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics created a study that tested the ingredients in 10 face paints. During that study, they found that all 10 contained lead, and six of them had high levels of skin allergens, such as nickel, chromium, and cobalt. Fortunately, it’s very easy to create your own homemade natural face paint. This natural face paint recipe uses four simple ingredients and four easy steps to create a skin safe face paint.
• Homemade dyes - we like this one by Earth Friendly Tips
• Face lotion
• Corn starch
• 1/4 teaspoon of vegetable oil
• Small bowl
• Small cosmetic containers
1. Begin by creating a base for the face paints by mixing together equal parts of face lotion and corn starch in the small bowl until they form a thick mixture. Add the vegetable oil to prevent the mixture from caking. Make sure there’s a smooth consistency without letting the mixture get too watery.
2. Add a spoonful of the mixture into the small cosmetic containers, and then use an eyedropper to add drops of your homemade natural dye until you reach the desired shade.
3. Apply to your face using face sponges. You can also use makeup brushes for creating details. If your homemade natural face paint starts to dry out, you can always add a few drops of water. As always, rub some of the homemade natural face paint on the skin to check for a reaction before applying.
Since this natural face paint uses color from fruits and vegetables for the dye, it’s one of the best face paints for sensitive skin. Skip the harsh chemicals and choose this natural face paint recipe for all your holiday fun!
【Application for 19-20 School Year has begun】 Mighty Oaks is a nurturing educational bilingual/trilingual environment with a focus on character building. Our little learners explore, laugh, love and grow together, turning from little acorns into oaks of righteousness. We are now accepting applications for the 2019-2020 academic year. Apply to secure an interview spot in February. Interview spaces are limited and will be on a first-come-first-served basis so act now!
Join our Mighty Oaks family in 2019-2020!
Shoebox mansion
Have a stack of shoeboxes and don’t want to throw them away? We LOVE this beautiful doll’s house by the Art Bar Blog (https://www.artbarblog.com/shoebox-mansion/). Shoeboxes can be lined with scrap paper or wrapping paper, kids’ drawings etc (a great way to use up all your little artist’s work!) and painted to create a unique toy house. Go a step further and create a village, complete with bakery, doctor’s offices, fire station, as well!
Toy storage / car garage
Wondering what to do with toilet rolls? Make this easy and stackable toy storage with some glue and toilet rolls cut in half. If your little one is obsessed with cars, this makes the perfect garage!
Homemade, all natural bubble bath
Which kid doesn’t love a good bubble bath? This natural bubble bath is not only fun to play with but incredibly moisturising on your skin.
• 2 cups of Castile Soap (Dr Bronner’s Brand)
• 2/3 cup of Vegetable Glycerin (can be found at health food stores or on Amazon)
• 2 TBSP of Distilled Water
• Lavender Essential Oil
• Cedarwood Essential Oil
• Measuring Cup
• Empty Bottle
Add 15 drops of Lavender essential oil and 15 drops of Cedarwood essential oil. These two oils are safe for children and have a bonus calming and soothing effect making them perfect for a night time bath! Once you have added the essential oils, give a quick shake and it’s ready to use! This recipe makes enough for 3-4 baths, with about 1/2 a cup for a bath. You can add less or more depending on the tub size/the amount of water during their bath.
Make some edible play dough!
We think this recipe by This Mom Life by Rosie is a delicious and fun way to keep kids busy on a rainy day. Marshmallow play dough is the perfect mix of creativity and messy play. The best part is they can eat it!
DIY Natural Face Paint
Fun events like birthday parties and Halloween aren’t supposed to put children at risk for lead exposure. Yet that’s exactly what happens when we use some brands of commercially available face paint. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics created a study that tested the ingredients in 10 face paints. During that study, they found that all 10 contained lead, and six of them had high levels of skin allergens, such as nickel, chromium, and cobalt. Fortunately, it’s very easy to create your own homemade natural face paint. This natural face paint recipe uses four simple ingredients and four easy steps to create a skin safe face paint.
• Homemade dyes - we like this one by Earth Friendly Tips
• Face lotion
• Corn starch
• 1/4 teaspoon of vegetable oil
• Small bowl
• Small cosmetic containers
1. Begin by creating a base for the face paints by mixing together equal parts of face lotion and corn starch in the small bowl until they form a thick mixture. Add the vegetable oil to prevent the mixture from caking. Make sure there’s a smooth consistency without letting the mixture get too watery.
2. Add a spoonful of the mixture into the small cosmetic containers, and then use an eyedropper to add drops of your homemade natural dye until you reach the desired shade.
3. Apply to your face using face sponges. You can also use makeup brushes for creating details. If your homemade natural face paint starts to dry out, you can always add a few drops of water. As always, rub some of the homemade natural face paint on the skin to check for a reaction before applying.
Since this natural face paint uses color from fruits and vegetables for the dye, it’s one of the best face paints for sensitive skin. Skip the harsh chemicals and choose this natural face paint recipe for all your holiday fun!
【Application for 19-20 School Year has begun】 Mighty Oaks is a nurturing educational bilingual/trilingual environment with a focus on character building. Our little learners explore, laugh, love and grow together, turning from little acorns into oaks of righteousness. We are now accepting applications for the 2019-2020 academic year. Apply to secure an interview spot in February. Interview spaces are limited and will be on a first-come-first-served basis so act now!
Join our Mighty Oaks family in 2019-2020!
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