'What Can I Do?' - My Nose

I can breathe and smell with my nose.

Teaching G about her nose was fun. We...

 1. Did breathing exercises - Just to get her into the mood to smell some scents coming her way. Somehow inhaling for her means lifting her shoulders too :).

2. Made (temporary) scented play-dough (peppermint) - I intentionally looked for a recipe that doesn't required cooking so my daughter could be really involve in the making of this. I was also looking for a recipe that didn't require me to buy any extra ingredients. I found some really nice homemade dough but I didn't have cream of tar tar so I moved on. The recipe I found (which seems a popular one) was a salted dough.
I got the recipe here: http://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipe/no-cook-play-dough-L2119.html

I added the peppermint when adding the oil. For colour, we were out of food colouring so we added a small amount (about 1/2 teaspoon) of green poster paint when adding the other liquids.

Being that it is our first attempt, we divided each ingredient (measurement) in half. I am now experimenting to see how long the dough will last; I have a small batch in the refrigerator in a sealable plastic container, I have another small batch at room temperature (also in a sealable container) and another small batch at room temperature that is left out for play. I can safely say the batch that is out for play will dry and crumble in less than 3 hrs BUT once I knead it again (no additional oil or water) it becomes soft again, peppermint scent still there and ready for play. It has been over 24hrs and the dough in the sealable containers are still okay and ready for play.  

  

3. Scented Flowers - 

I got the idea from here: http://www.twigglemagazine.com/March-activities/scented-flowers-craft.html

However, using what I had on hand we did our own version.

I cut the flowers out of construction papers and my daughter paired the colours. I also let her choose the colour pompoms and pipe cleaners she would like for each flower. It was a bit difficult to get the pipe cleaners through the pompoms (I had to fuzz it out a bit and while I was doing that I was scolding myself for not using coloured cotton balls). 

I used green construction paper to wrap an old vase, glued it and then wrapped green pipe cleaners around the paper to keep it. I also get a green sponge and place it inside the vase to keep the flowers intact (especially since G smells the flowers each time she passes them).  

4. Scent Exploration around the home - We did one for the Kitchen, Bathroom and outside.

From the kitchen we had lemon and almond flavouring, cinnamon powder, nutmeg, vanilla, peppermint essence and a ball of chocolate. 

From the bathroom we had shampoo, conditioner, powder, oils, toothpaste, lotion and body mist. 

From outside we smelled different flowers. 

I tried to keep her away from the very strong scents, especially the ones with alcohols in them like rubbing alcohol, perfume, etc. 

5. An oldie but goody: Kool-aid paint :). She smell them as she paint...even taste. 

Oh, before I forget....

6. We created our nose.