Homemade herbal products for use at bath time are a great way to introduce children to the many versatile uses of herbs for natural body care.
It can give them a basic understanding of how and why we should work in harmony with nature and not against it.
For it is important that the young ones realise, from an early age, that natural things are the best, the purest, and the most beneficial.
A 'soapy wash bag' is not only a good introduction to using herbs, but is great for scrubbing the kids clean and softening the skin at the same time.
Make the bag from a 25-centimetre square of muslin cloth and attach a drawstring to close it.
Next, mix together two tablespoons of any of the following dried herbs - chamomile, rosemary, calendula, lavender, sage, rose, yarrow or elder flower, two tablespoons of medium ground oatmeal, and one tablespoon of pure, unscented, grated white soap.
Place the mixture in the bag and use to gently wash the body.
'Soap Bubble Liquid' is bound to be a big hit with young children.
It is a great way for them to enjoy bathing, while at the same time washing away dirt and grime.
Put any of the previous dried herbs, in the proportion of two teaspoons to every 300mls of boiling water, in a ceramic bowl and add soft water.
Cover, steep overnight and strain through muslin cloth.
Hard water (reticulated tap water) can be softened by adding washing soda or bicarbonate of soda in the following proportion: 45g to every four litres of water.
Add 12g of pure, grated soap or soap flakes to every 300mls of herb water and dissolve together in an enamel or stainless steel saucepan over a medium heat, stirring continuously.
Stir in 145mls of glycerine to every 300mls of the herb water until well blended. Remove from the stove, cool, and store in a tightly-capped bottle.
Pour a small amount into the bath water while the taps are running, and swish around to create the bubbles.
Teenage children will love using 'scented bath salts'.
When my daughter was still a teenager, she would add the following herbal bath salts to the bath whenever she felt the need to luxuriate.
Thoroughly mix together the following ingredients: 560g of bicarbonate of soda, 15g of dried lavender and eight millilitres (160 drops) each of rosemary and eucalyptus oil.
Store in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.
To use the bath salts, add a couple of handfuls to a square of muslin, draw up the sides and tie with a piece of ribbon.
Swirl around in the bath water and leave in the bag.
When you've finished soaking, rub the muslin bag over your body until the scent of the lavender is exhausted.
