Salt helps our skin by drawing out moisture and toxins. If you play a lot of sports and your feet or legs feel swollen a nice salt soak is very good for you. Add a little to your bathwater and soak away!

Materials:

Kosher salt

Food coloring

Flavoring (you can also use essential oils from a health store)

Wax paper “placemat” for each guest

Plastic spoon for each guest

Plastic container with lid (craft stores have many varieties)

Blank stickers on which to write the name of the product

Permanent markers

Colored markers, crayons or paint

Chinese take out boxes

Directions

Tape down a wax paper workspace in front of each guest

Measure the amount of salt that fills the container and pour it in front of each guest. Have them divide their salt into separate piles (these will be the different colors/scents)

Add coloring and scents to each pile of salt. Allow children to be creative – lavender can be red and lemon can be blue!

Spoon the salt crystals into the container. Children may want to place all the salt in the container and shake it up and some may want to layer the salt.

Have them write the name of their product on the sticker and place it on their container. They can decorate their Chinese take-out boxes and place their container of salt crystals inside.

Robin Berlinsky is the director of education at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry and a former educator of 15 years in Charleston County schools. She owns niki leigh spa, which offers children’s spa birthday parties. Visit nikileighspa.blogspot.com.