Place the washing soda in a couple of layers of plastic bags and pound with a rolling pin until the crystals are even sized. Tip them into a bowl and colour with food colouring, add a drop of essential oil such as rose, sweetpea, vanilla or lavender. Pack in pretty jars or cellophane, muslin or organza bags and decorate with ribbon and a gift tag explaining that a hand ful of crystals should be added to the bath while it is running. Vouchers are good gifts from kids to parents. The responsible over 14s can do baby sitting vouchers.
Older kids can also make gifts in the kitchen- fudge, truffles, christmas gingerbread.