Recreational Therapist uses Baking Soda for therapy.

Sodium Bicarbonate is a chemical compound commonly known as baking soda. The white powdery substance has a wide variety of uses. It can be used in cooking as a baking agent, pest control to kill cockroaches, in pools to increase or decrease pH levels, and many others. Recreational Therapist, Kristina Mancuso uses baking soda during therapy sessions at a residential facility called Sheltering Arms in the Bronx, New York.

Baking soda is one of three ingredients used to make slime and is a popular activity for kids. Elmer's multi-purpose glue and saline solution is mixed in with the baking soda to create the substance. Mancuso admits making the slime is one of her kid’s favorite activities and is also extremely therapeutic.

"We work with kids, birth to twenty-one years old, who come in for reasons whether they were sexually, physically, or mentally abused and it is a pre-placement for foster care until they find permanent placing," Mancuso said.

Slime

Slime

Ingredients

"Slime sessions" are sensory stimulating. The kids communicate and learn through their senses while being able to alleviate negative emotions. It teaches them practical life skills that include problem solving through trial and error. They develop social skills by sharing, healthy communication, and group cohesion. It also enhances their fine and gross motor skills by improving hand eye coordination, reaching, grasping, and holding materials. Lastly, it is an emotional regulator. It helps as a calming and grounding technique.

The therapy has shown to be effective because the children are receiving the care they need along with having fun in the process. These children come from unfortunate environments and just being a kid allows them to enjoy themselves.

"You would never think that something as simple as baking soda could benefit individuals in so many different ways," Mancuso said.