Teach Soap

Hello, I was curious if anyone else has ever taught melt and pour soapmaking classes like at childrens' birthday parties or private parties and how they went about it? I already have my business license, permit, insurance etc through the Soap Guild, but I was wondering like for liability with the kids if I could draft up a liability waiver for parents to sign prior to the parties releasing me for liability suits? Also, I already have tons of supplies to do this melt and pour colorants etc but if anyone has any tips they could give me it would be much appreciated! Thank you!

Amanda

How old are the children?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Ages 8 and up.

I would bring some fun molds and let the kids choose the mold, color, fragrance and glitter. I hear 8 yr. old girls love glitter. Depending on the time frame and how many children show up, you could melt the MP base in a crock pot, or use the microwave. Weigh out the melted soap and have the child choose the rest. Pour into "their" mold, then let set up. Having pre-measured fragrance might make things easier for you.

A liability waiver is a good idea. Will the parents be there the whole time while the children are doing this? If not, you might want to get a couple of adult helpers to minimize any incidents.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thanks, I was going to hire an employee to help with the big parties. Good idea about the crockpot. I just wanted to be sure I was going about it the right way. I wanted to do something in addition to my business to help with the costs of running it.....so I thought this was a good idea. Also that no one else in this area offers anything like this service. Business is really slow right now, so it would surely help out. One more question...do you know if I have to have a Cosmetic license to make lip balms, sugar scrubs etc...? I have a regular business license to make soap, I wasn't sure if I need to get one? I live in California.

I would check with the business section of your local city hall. I don't think you need a cosmetic license.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thank you very much for your help

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I've been doing children's classes for a year or so and it's so worthwhile. They choose two colours and scents each and I have a huge number of kid-related molds, small are best for setting time. It takes around an hour and a half for the average class of say 8 ten year olds. Age gets lower, time gets longer. Although, too much younger and they get bored quickly. Youngest was 7 year old girls and boys, oldest up to 14 year old girls. I don't let them touch the soap until it's unmolding time though, unless their parent is with them to ok it. And busy work like cutting raffia for bags and writing labels is good in the last half hour while everything sets. Also a game like who can guess the scents in the unlabelled bottles and win a prize are good for then, while I'm tidying up a bit.
Either I go to their place or they come to my studio, which means more molds and scents but less convenience for them. It's a nice change from adult students, I find. Totally different energy.

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"What am I supposed to do with all my great ideas? Put 'em in a tub and clean myself with them? That's what soap is for, Lois." Peter Griffin

How does teaching these types of classes effect your liability insurance coverage? Or does matter?

I did something similar with my daughters and niece but I only had three kids ding it so it wasn't too hard. I let them pick the colors, the fragrance and because they were being very closely supervised, I allowed them to help stir the m&p I would not recommend allowing other people's kids to do that part. I also started everything out with going over the rules, there could be no running, jumping, or yelling since we all needed to be able to hear each other talk for safety. There was only one kid working with me at a time, and if at any time you were asked to leave the area (for safety or not following the rules) then there was no arguing... It worked out very well, although we did end up with clear red and gold glittery rose scented seashells, but hey, the kids were happy!