Here is a therapeutic Anti-Stress Velvety Soft Calming Lavender Dough Recipe. It is Devine! Perfect to use in calm-down areas or as a pre-nap sensory activity. This calming lavender dough can help children to develop emotional regulation skills and relaxation strategies.
This recipe uses essential oils traditionally used in Aromatherapy for relaxation. The scent of this calming lavender dough, combined with its creamy velvety texture, provides a therapeutic relaxing activity. If you have a child who experiences stress, anxiety or big emotions, this recipe is for you.
Benefits of this Anti-Stress Fluffy Lavender Dough
- Sensory Play is calming and therapeutic. This requires children to focus on the smell, the texture, the visual aspects and the sounds of the dough. It is a safe sensory outlet without being over stimulating and overwhelming.
- Lavender essential oil is said to improve mood and reduce stress.
- Recently, it has been suggested that lavender also promotes brain function.
- Lavender aides in sleep and helps with restlessness.
- By physically pushing, poking, squishing, squeezing, moulding and so forth, children can release frustrations safely.
- Children can be taught to breathe deeply and use the calming lavender dough as a stress relief when they first sense their body tightening.
Related: Books to develop Emotional Awareness in Children.
Calming Lavender Dough Recipe
- 2 Cups of Lavender Scented Hair Conditioner
- 5 Cups of Dry Corn Starch (corn flour)
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Colouring
- Fine Glitter
- Fresh or Dried Lavender Petals
Simply pour all ingredients into a large bowl and mix. Start off slow so your corn flour doesn’t puff out of the bowl. If it is too sloppy, just add a few more sprinkles of corn flour until it is the right consistency. Once its mixed, knead it like dough and add in your glitter. Add more essential oil if it doesn’t smell. This is quite a large batch. I used 10 drops of oil initially and added another couple as I was kneading. You will know when it is velvety soft and creamy, as it wont stick and your fingers will glide through it.
Using the Dough as an Emotional Regulation Tool.
Store this velvety calming lavender dough in an air tight container for hours of play. This would make a fabulous addition in a stress relief tool kit for kids. It would be beneficial to any time-in/time-out space and to any calming corners, where children can go to release pent up frustrations or emotions.
It is easy to make a specific area aimed at developing emotional regulation. Just choose a quiet area tucked away and in dim light. Put a small blanket or some cushions down, maybe a small table. Provide a playdough mat, and this calming lavender dough.
To make your chill out corner even better, add some tactile sensory toys like this. They are great when kids need to re-center themselves. You might try some breathing aides like these beautiful pinwheels, or these bubble wands. A few visual liquid motion glasses like these ones, they provide a mesmerising calming distraction. Very calming to focus on. Finally, you need something that plays calming music, like this Amazing wave projector with relaxing sounds.
To initiate the calm-down corner, teach your child to go there when ever they feel tense. You can help by prompting them whenever you notice they are getting worked up, stressed or experiencing heightened emotions. Or if you utilise ‘time-in’s’ or effective positive ‘time-outs’ as a behavioural management strategy whenever kids need to re-centre. Then use this for their advantage…
Related: An effective tool to teach children to self-regulate.
To begin with, you might sit with them and show them how to “play” with the calming lavender dough. As they observe you squishing, poking, pushing and so forth on the dough, you can verbally explain to them how it makes you feel. For instance, say “I am so angry that Sally took the last jelly. Grrrr! I am going to push this dough really hard because I am feeling mad”. Then, after doing that, you might say how it makes you feel better… Then seize the opportunity to discuss how its ok to be angry and push the dough, but its not ok to push others (for example).
I hope this Calming Lavender dough recipe becomes one of your go-to sensory activities. It really is lovely and soft with some a beautiful texture and scent. You might find yourself joining in, for some much needed relaxation time.
Renee x
Visit our Recommended Online Positive Parenting Course Here.
Do you have any effective emotional regulation tools that work well in calm-down corners or positive time-out’s?
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