Making soap with kids is not only a fun activity, but also a great way to be creative together. Whether you want to brighten up a rainy afternoon or create an original gift, making soap together offers endless possibilities. In this blog, you'll discover why making soap with children is so much fun, what to keep in mind, what supplies you need, and step-by-step instructions and inspiration for the most beautiful creations. Let's get started!

Why make soap with kids?

Making soap with children is a fantastic way to spend time together. It's not only fun but also educational. Kids learn about chemical reactions, mixing colours, and recognising shapes. Moreover, it stimulates their creativity and fine motor skills. The end result is something tangible they can proudly use or give as a gift. Here are the reasons why you should make soap with children:

• Educational: Kids learn about chemical reactions and how different ingredients work together to make soap.
• Mixing colours: They discover how colours blend and how to create new colours.
• Creativity: Making soap stimulates kids' creativity by allowing them to experiment with shapes, colours, and scents.
• Fine motor skills: Pouring the soap and adding details helps develop fine motor skills.
• Pride in the end result: They can be proud of their creations and use them or give them as gifts.
• Teamwork: It's an activity that promotes teamwork and cooperation.
• Fun: It's a fun and interactive way to spend time, especially on rainy days.
• Eco-friendly: Making soap yourself allows you to choose natural ingredients and create a more environmentally friendly product.
• Unique gifts: Homemade soaps make perfect personal gifts for friends and family.
• Safe: With proper guidance and child-friendly materials, it is a safe activity.

With all these benefits, it's no wonder that making soap with kids is a popular activity for both parents and children.

What to consider when making soap with kids

When making soap with children, there are a few things to keep in mind. Safety is the top priority. Ensure you work in a well-ventilated area and always supervise, especially when working with hot materials. Use child-friendly ingredients and avoid strong scents or colours that can cause skin irritation. It is also helpful to wear protective clothing and gloves.

Supplies needed to make soap with kids

To start making soap, you will need some basic supplies, as well as some extra materials that make it even more fun for kids.

Basic supplies

For soapmaking, you will need a few essential items:

• Melt-and-pour soap base: This is the foundation for your soaps; this usually comes in a block form that you melt.
• Soap moulds: Silicone moulds are perfect because the soap comes out easily.
• Colours: Use special soap dyes, which are safe and create beautiful, bright colours.
• Scents: Essential oils or soap fragrances give your soaps a delightful aroma.

Extra fun for kids

To make it even more fun for kids, you can add extra materials:

• Glitters: Kid-friendly glitters make your soaps extra festive.
• Toys: Small plastic toys can be embedded in the soap for a surprising effect.
• Colour and scent combinations: Let the children experiment with different combinations to create unique creations.

Step-by-step guide to making soap with kids

Making soap is a simple process you can follow with your children in a few steps. It's a fun and educational activity where they can actively participate and be proud of the end result. Here's how you do it:

Step 1: Preparation

Make sure you have all the supplies ready. Cut the melt-and-pour soap base into small cubes so it melts faster. Let your child help gather all the materials and cut the soap under adult supervision.

Step 2: Melting

Melt the soap base in a heatproof bowl. This can be done in the microwave or a double boiler. Stir occasionally to avoid lumps. Your child can place the soap cubes in the bowl and (with your help) gently stir while the soap melts.

Step 3: Adding colours and scents

Add the colourants and fragrances to the melted soap. Let the children help with this and encourage them to try different combinations. This is an excellent opportunity for them to be creative and make their own unique soaps.

Step 4: Pouring into moulds

Pour the coloured and scented soap into the moulds. Let your child hold the moulds and help with pouring. Add glitter or toys before the soap hardens. This makes the soaps extra special and fun to use or give as gifts.

Step 5: Cooling

Let the soap cool and harden completely, which can take several hours. Once the soap is hard, you can carefully remove the soap from the moulds. Let your child do this as well so they can admire the end result and be proud of their work.

Involving your child in each step makes soap-making not only more fun but also a valuable learning moment. Enjoying this creative process together will undoubtedly lead to lots of fun and beautiful memories.

Inspiration – Fun soaps to make

Here are some fun ideas to make together with children:

• Scented fruit soap: Use fragrance and colours to create soaps that look and smell like fruit. Think orange scent for orange soaps, strawberry scent for red soaps, and lemon scent for yellow soaps. This is a fun way to introduce children to different scents and colours.
• Animal soap: Use moulds shaped like animals and add glitter for a magical effect. Kids can choose their favourite shapes and customise their soap to their liking. This makes soap-making extra fun, and the soaps also make great gifts.
• Glittering soap: Add glitter to the melted soap for a sparkling effect. Children will love the shimmering soaps that sparkle in the light. You can choose different colours of glitter to make it extra festive.
• Rainbow soap: Create colourful rainbow soap by pouring multiple layers in different colours. Let each layer harden slightly before pouring the next. This creates a beautiful rainbow effect that kids will love.
• Geode soap: Make soaps that look like beautiful crystals by using different colours and glitters.

Making soap with children is a fantastic way to be creative together while making something useful. With the right supplies and a bit of patience, you can create beautiful, unique soaps that are fun to make and use. Have fun making soap together!

More crafting with kids

Looking for even more fun craft activities to do with children? Check out our other blogs for endless inspiration:

• Make your own sidewalk chalk
• 20 creative activities for children
• Creative with kids: Painting
• Crafting masks
• Drawing on stones
• Making cards