Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Preschoolers Pumpkin Soap Balls


 I have the tried and true staple activities I try to do every year. We don't always get to it but this year we have it planned! Pumpkin soap balls are really easy to make and a great messy activity for the little ones. Don't worry, the mess consists of soap so we all wind up smelling nice and clean when it's all over!

How to Make Pumpkin Soap Balls:
Materials: Dreft soap flakes or any brand of boxed soap flakes (1 Box equals six to nine children), Green chenille, green construction paper, marker, saran wrap, yarn, tooth picks, large bowl, play dough mats for each child, warm water, orange food coloring, large spoon, hole punch
Procedure: Mix soap, food coloring and slowly add warm water to the large bowl and mix. The consistency should be thick and stick to the spoon. Distribute soap to children on their mats and have them form a ball and a face (using the toothpicks). Have pre-cut pumpkin leaves cut (green construction paper) of each child's name and stick a small length of green chenille through a pre-punched hole. This is the stem and leaves of the pumpkin soap. After it dries you can gift wrap it in saran wrap and tie it off with a length of yarn.

These pumpkin soap balls make excellent gifts!

7 comments:

puredisco76 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
puredisco76 said...

Has anyone tried this "recipe" pressed into a candy mold? And how long did the ball take to dry?

Barbra The Bloggess said...

Hi puredisco76,
I have never pressed it in a mold but that is an awesome idea!
Depending on the size of the soap balls it takes about three hours. We do the project before lunch and they are definately ready to go home the same day.

puredisco76 said...

Thanks! I think I am going to try the recipe for party favors for my son's 3rd birthday but pressing the dough into a train candy mold. Trial run today!

Barbra The Bloggess said...

Excellent! We really hope it works out! Let us know how it goes....
:)

puredisco76 said...

Where did you get the soap flakes?? I looked at Target & Wal Mart for Ivory snow or Dreft flakes and neither had it. So I bought Ivory bars and will shred them..long way around but want to try the pumpkins for this weekend.

Barbra The Bloggess said...

Goodness Gravy! I'm sorry to hear that, puredisco76! Any baby powdered laundry detergent should do the trick. I would think something comparable should do it.
We actually got ours at Walmart, but perhaps a grocery store in your area could have it, too.
You are a very dedicated person! Hey, from determination like yours we can all benefit if you have discovered a better way to do this.
Keep us posted!