Packaging Uncured Soap

[HerbalEarthling]

Hey folks! So I have been given the opportunity to teach a group of first graders how to make soap. It's a month long summer camp that only runs for 1 week for each age group so I only have a week to make soap, cut, and package it good enough so the children can transport their bar home. Of course, I will do a pH test and a zap test (out of the children's eye since they are pretty young and I wouldn't want them to think that they can go around licking soap) before they actually take it home. Also, I will be sure to include instructions on the label that the bars should be left alone to cure for another 4 weeks or so. My question is, how would you go about packaging the bars? Maybe like an organza bag so they can just hang it up to cure and just tie a label on it? Any kind of paper that you know of that is breathable? What do you think? :think:

 

[Cindy2428]

I can't address your soap query but may I ask why you are going to do CP? (I only assume CP because of the curing time you mention). 6-7 year olds generally have the attention span of gnats and if you give them something they can't use for 4-6 weeks, they will probably forget they even made it. If you did M&P they could possible stamp their initials in it, or add a nature project from camp and truly have a memory they could take home and use right away.

 

[Susie]

^What Cindy2428 said. Also, very dangerous to have kids around lye. I would never in a million years have lye around a bunch of 6-7 year olds. You just never know when one will think they can "help" you.

 

[jenneelk]

I would do a bar that gets pretty firm quickly.. maybe hide some stearic in there somehow. lol They don't need to know it's there but it will help firm them up for packaging. Who is paying for the packaging? I'd maybe do tool or something like that with a little tie? Maybe cut squares and put the soap in the middle and pull up and around like a gift basket wrap but on a soap?

In regards to the lye issue brought up.. if the set up is such that the kids are not near you and they lye is away where they can't touch it and ready to go when need be, then it should be ok. You just need to address the concern with the camp teacher ahead of time I think and make sure there are others there to keep the kids away from it. Are they kinders going to 1st or 1st going to 2nd? Really does make a difference on the squirminess. lol And I'm guessing the camp people are smart enough to not have you alone with all of them.. how many kids?
But I think if the kids are supervised and not near you it shouldn't be an issue. Or at least have them in their seat when you get the lye out and start mixing, and you aren't alone. kwim?

It is odd though that they want to do cp for so young an age. Is it just to show and not to learn? MP is always the choice for soap making for kids pretty much 13 and under it seems. Wonder why they aren't having u do that.. Kids could be so much more involved.
Is it science camp maybe?

 

[HerbalEarthling]

I can't address your soap query but may I ask why you are going to do CP? (I only assume CP because of the curing time you mention). 6-7 year olds generally have the attention span of gnats and if you give them something they can't use for 4-6 weeks, they will probably forget they even made it. If you did M&P they could possible stamp their initials in it, or add a nature project from camp and truly have a memory they could take home and use right away.

Yes, I will be making CP for the kiddos. I only make CP, have never even dappled in M&P nor do I have any desire to so I definitely wouldn't want to teach something that I'm not completely familiar with.

I will be melting and mixing the water/lye and oils at home. Only will be combining the two mixtures and bringing them to emulsification/light trace, then molding. I plan on doing 1 color and an essential oil. I'm really not all that concerned with losing their attention as it really is all on how you engage your audience, taking their age into consideration. Obviously I wouldn't talk to you in the same way I would talk to them. You just have to keep it interesting.

I understand your concerns about them losing interest, and you may even be thinking about safety and me getting distracted. But there will be several other adults that if a child is out of line or being disruptive, they can and will be removed. I talk to myself all the time when I'm making any products as if I'm teaching someone how so I'm pretty on point when talking.

We've already set guidelines and I believe the lady organizing the camp already has a permission slip for their parents to sign just letting them know what we will be doing and that there will be safety precautions that everyone will have to take.

With that said, I'm very fortunate that where I live, is a very tight-knit family oriented community. I believe that the families that will be at this camp are all very focused on their children and have no doubt that this soap making group will be nothing but fun, educational, and memorable.

 

[Bex1982]

If it's more about the soap making process, then I would just keep it simple. 100% co maybe a high superfat, that thing will be rock hard in a week. I was taught that soaps keep best in paper bags due to moisture n whatnot, breathable but doesn't let stuff in either. Just slap labels on paper lunch bags and maybe the kids can decorate their bags, add ribbon or something and give mommy n daddy as a gift. Soap is safe to use after 2 days or so, so if someone did accidentally use it, it's not like they'd get lye burned.
That being said, I still won't let my 8yr old help me with soap making.

 

[HerbalEarthling]

I would do a bar that gets pretty firm quickly.. maybe hide some stearic in there somehow. lol They don't need to know it's there but it will help firm them up for packaging. Who is paying for the packaging? I'd maybe do tool or something like that with a little tie? Maybe cut squares and put the soap in the middle and pull up and around like a gift basket wrap but on a soap?

In regards to the lye issue brought up.. if the set up is such that the kids are not near you and they lye is away where they can't touch it and ready to go when need be, then it should be ok. You just need to address the concern with the camp teacher ahead of time I think and make sure there are others there to keep the kids away from it. Are they kinders going to 1st or 1st going to 2nd? Really does make a difference on the squirminess. lol And I'm guessing the camp people are smart enough to not have you alone with all of them.. how many kids?
But I think if the kids are supervised and not near you it shouldn't be an issue. Or at least have them in their seat when you get the lye out and start mixing, and you aren't alone. kwim?

It is odd though that they want to do cp for so young an age. Is it just to show and not to learn? MP is always the choice for soap making for kids pretty much 13 and under it seems. Wonder why they aren't having u do that.. Kids could be so much more involved.
Is it science camp maybe?

Ooooo I didn't even think of tulle!!! Honestly, I have never done any other packaging with soap other than coffee filters on round soap and a simple cigar band label on my "square" soaps. I just might go with that! Thanks!

As for safety, I'm not concerned at all since there will be plenty of precautions taken. DON'T WORRY PEOPLE! I'm pretty sure they are going into 2nd, there are like 8 adults to 15 or so kids (I think), we will be outside in a pavilion, and the kids won't be any less than 4 feet away (we are setting up on picnic tables and I get my own table).

As for the why CP and not M&P, I was talking to the lady that runs the camp (she's a customer at the auction house that I work at) and she said that soapmaking would be a great topic. This is just a general camp that is based around homesteading/farming/etc. Soapmaking is a basic pioneer skill and I believe it's pretty important to know that it even exists, let alone how to make it. A lot of people, adults included, don't really even give it a second thought as to where their soap came from and who made it.

 

[jenneelk]

Yeah then that totally makes sense. I bet they will love it and maybe talk their parents into trying it.
Have fun!!

 

[HerbalEarthling]

Yeah then that totally makes sense. I bet they will love it and maybe talk their parents into trying it.
Have fun!!

Thanks so much! Education is key!

 

[HerbalEarthling]

Please everyone don't take this the wrong way as your suggestions, knowledge, and opinions are always greatly appreciated. But to be honest, I was all amped up and excited for this and some of ya'll took some of the helium out of my balloon. I've been reading a lot of negative things tonight on the forum and IMO, I believe everyone, including me, needs to lighten up a little bit and just relax. Offer support when someone needs it and guidence. But please, don't jump to conclusions and think about what you're saying, as some of the things you say may create friction that is totally unnecessary. Please, do not be disconcerted by this, as I mean this all in the most delicate way.

 

[Cindy2428]

HerbalEarthling, I sincerely apologize if my comments were interpreted as negative. I think your project is wonderful and if I had had the opportunity at camp many moons ago, I probably would have been soaping a long time ago! I have been an occupational therapist for almost 30 years and children have always been my most challenging patients. It's easier for me to work with a burn patient screaming in pain during therapy than an overstimulated child. Since you were asked to instruct a class for children, I based my comments on the premise that you are experienced and had problem-solved the safety considerations, lye, et, al. I was approaching my comments more from a normal developmental progression of children, specifically understanding the concept of time, which at that age they normally do not. They may know what 6:00 looks like on a clock, but they have not gained the concept yet of what "20 minutes from now means". So again, sincere apology if I have offended - have a wonderful week and I would love a post on how your week went.

 

[Crombie]

Why Not HP instead?

If you CP, then you should be able to HP. You can go from oils to soap in less than an hour. Pour into silicone cavity molds and within an hour you can pop up and put in organza bags and they could use them that night if they wanted to. They get to see the benefits of the soap process. If this is a two session thing and you truly wanted to do a loaf, you could cut later the same day and give them to them the next day. I think it would be fun to have a pre-cut cigar band with the label and a clip-art outline of the front that they can color while you wait for the soap to be ready to pop out of the mold. And, for HP, I would consider using SL so they end up with a smooth - CP look. That way, if they take home they will have the list of ingredients on the back. If you use a 7 - 8 quart crockpot, you can use 66 oz of oils and end of with about four pounds of soap. A lot of people don't realize but HP is closer to the way soap was made long ago than CP is. It was made over an outdoor fire.

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