Aromatherapy Air-Fresheners
Type of modality / AromatherapyType of play / Solitary or Parallel
Interaction pattern / Extra-Individual
# of participants required / 1 or more, can be completed independently or as a group
Equipment/supplies / Mason Jar
1 piece of scrapbook paper (could also use photographs, cut-outs of expressions, old cards, wrapping paper)
Ribbon
Baking Soda
Dried Herbs (lavender, peppermint used here)
Essential Oils (lavender, peppermint used here)
Large spoon
Fork
1 Tbsp Measuring Spoon
Scissors
Pencil
Safety pin
Facilities required/environment / A flat surface (e.g., table, countertop)
Precautions / RT should be aware of allergic reactions to intense aromas, be cautious of safety with glass jars in case of breakage and glass clean-up and be mindful of the dust that moving baking soda from one container to another can put into the air as this can impact breathing.
Task Analysis
1. Gather all equipment/supplies together and place on a table.
2. Open the bags of herbs, open the lids to the essential oils.
3. Trace the inside lid, or mouth, of the Mason jar onto the back of the scrapbook paper.
4. Using scissors, cut out the circle from the scrapbook paper and place under the metal rimmed lid of the Mason jar. This is your new lid, you will not be using the flat metal lid that came with the Mason jar.
5. Using a large spoon, scoop baking soda from its container into the Mason jar, filling the jar up to approximately one inch from the top of the rim.
6. Pour approximately 20 drops of essential oil onto the top of the baking soda.
7. Measure out approximately 2 tablespoons of dried herbs and pour them on top of the baking soda.
8. Using a fork, slowly and carefully stir the ingredients together in the jar. (If this task is difficult due to the small amount of space in the jar then mixing could be done in a bowl or large container first and then spooned into the Mason jars.)
9. Once mixed thoroughly, place the newly made paper lid and metal rim onto the Mason jar and twist tightly closed.
10. Cut a piece of ribbon and tie it around the rim of the jar for decoration.
11. Open the safety pin, use the sharp point to poke holes into the paper lid on the Mason jar. This will allow the fragrance to escape the holes in the jar.
12. Place the air-freshener in any room you want the fragrance to fill and enjoy!
Activity Analysis
Category / SkillsPrimary body position / Standing or sitting
Part of the body required / Hands, fingers, arms, eyes, nose
Movement / Carrying in the hands (e.g., carrying the ingredients to the table); Grasp: Radial Digital (e.g., pouring the essential oil drops into the jar); Grasp: Scissor Grasp (e.g., using scissors to cut scrapbook paper); Grasp: Pincer Grasp (e.g., tying the ribbon); Grasp: Palmer Grasp (e.g., holding the jar); Manipulating (e.g., blending the ingredients together); Picking Up (e.g., picking up the jar, picking up the bag of baking soda, picking up the utensils); Pulling (e.g., pulling the ribbon into a knot or bow); Putting Down Objects (e.g., putting down the jar on the table, putting down the bag of herbs, putting down the bag of baking soda); Reaching (e.g., reaching across the table to pick up the oil or reaching across the table to put down the herbs); Releasing (e.g., letting go of the items grasped such as the bag of herbs, the bottles of essential oils); Turning/Twisting Hands/Arms (e.g., turning wrists in such a manner as to combine the ingredients once they are all in the jar together).
Physical / Balance: Dynamic Sitting/Standing (e.g., this project can be completed sitting or standing. In either case, reaching with upper extremities will be necessary in order to pick up the ingredients and put them into the Mason jar); Crossing Midline (e.g., this may be necessary if the Mason jar and/or ingredients are to the left or right of one’s midline); Fine Motor Coordination (e.g., holding the spoon, fork, safety pin, cutting scrapbook paper); Gross Muscle Coordination (e.g., lifting the bag of baking soda, gathering and carrying materials for the project); Motor Control (e.g., ability to hold onto the spoon containing the baking soda despite any baking soda dust that may be in the air, holding onto the spoon even if some baking soda is spilling outside the jar while transferring the baking soda from the bag to the Mason jar); Muscle Strength (e.g., ability to move the bag of baking soda, lift the baking soda out of the bag and pour it into the jar); Active Range of Motion: Upper Extremities (e.g., movement of joints at shoulders, elbows, wrists for picking up, pouring, stirring, moving ingredients and objects); Visual-Motor Integration (e.g., interpreting where the eyes see the opening to the Mason jar in correlation with where the spoon is placed to ensure the baking soda goes into the jar and not onto the table).
Cognitive / Arousal/Alertness (e.g., aware of surroundings so ingredients do not spill); Attention: Selective Attention (e.g., ability to maintain attention to the ingredient in the person’s hand at the moment); Attention: Sharing Attention (e.g., 2 people may be using the same ingredients if this project takes place in a group setting); Calculation (e.g., ability to measure 2 Tbsp of herbs); Decision Making: Simple (e.g., making choices between ingredients available for desired aromas in the final product); Initiation (e.g., starting the pouring of the baking soda and essential oils); Judgement (e.g. in regards to using the ingredients as intended); Organization and Planning (e.g., gathering materials prior to beginning project); Sequencing (e.g., completing the steps in the order instructed, such as not putting the essential oil drops into the Mason jar before the baking soda).
Social / Heterogeneity/Homogeneity (e.g., interacting with people of similar of different cultures/interests/preferences for aromas, if in a group setting); Regulating Behaviors (e.g., if one becomes frustrated with the project there will need to be regulation of how this frustration is expressed); Showing Respect/Warmth (e.g., complimenting another person’s project, if in a group setting).
This project may be completed individually and may not require social interactions with others.
Perception / Olfactory Function (e.g., smelling the aromas of the oils and herbs); Visual Function (e.g., seeing the finished product which can be quite pretty once completed); Tactile Function (e.g., ability to feel the objects you are picking up so they’re not dropped and/or broken)
Communication/language / Reception to spoken language (e.g., if instructions are being given verbally); Reception to written language (e.g., if instructions are being given in written format).
Self-care / Self-care is not a requirement for completion of this activity however washing one’s hands after completion would remove any baking soda residue and/or essential oil that may have spilled. Proper hygiene and lack of mal-odors may aid in the fragrant aroma penetrating the environment.
Psychological/emotional (possible) / Joy (e.g., joy may be experienced from the creativity and sense of accomplishment from completing the project, pleasure may be experienced from the aromatic properties of the herbs and oils); Fear (e.g., if the person has significant motor impairments they may be concerned about dropping the glass jars and breakage, a plastic jar may be used instead to avoid any negative emotions); Frustration (e.g., essential oils may sometimes take a second or so to begin to drop and this may frustrate someone with a low-frustration tolerance, spilling baking soda which can cause dust to go into the air may cause frustration for someone with a low-frustration tolerance as well. Encouraging the person to proceed slowly and gently may be helpful).
SIMPLIFYING AND COMPLICATING THIS ACTIVITY:
Ways to SIMPLIFY demands / Ways to make more COMPLEXCognitively / -Amount of herbs can be estimated
-Amount of essential oil drops can be estimated
-Give a limited amount of choices for simple decision making (e.g., 2 oils, 2 herbs) / -Create different recipes for aromas (e.g., one cinnamon stick, grated orange peels and an essential oil to create a holiday blend)
-Require measuring of the ingredients to ensure there is enough supply for a determined amount of projects
Physically / -Prepare the jars with baking soda in advance, have herbs pre-measured onto a napkin, place oil drops into a small cups which can be more easily poured, place only the necessary ingredients in front of the person making the project to lessen the physical demands of the activity
-Utilize large-mouth jars for easier pouring of ingredients
-Use a funnel for pouring baking soda
-Provide paper lids already cut to size / -Have oils, baking soda, herbs in different stations around the room and require participants to walk to different stations to get the next ingredient
-Use burlap instead of scrapbook paper for the lid, this will require more strength to twist the lid closed and may be more difficult than paper to cut evenly and neatly
Socially / -Complete during 1:1 so expectations for socialization are limited
-Provide the ingredients and supplies to a person and allow them to complete the project independently / -Complete this project in small groups, such as 4 people around a table facing each other, which may encourage conversation
-Encourage the group members to share with the other people at the table why they chose their particular herb and oil combination
-Encourage participants to share one memory they have about a particular smell
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