Set up a Potion Station for Your Kids
This summer. This crazy virus is going on all around. Children get bored with the usual puzzles, board games, books and toys. It’s time to let them brew the potions.
You probably did something like this as a child. Mixing different liquids and other materials to make some strange, frothy, oozy potion. (If you haven’t, that’s a bummer. You missed it.) It’s messy, yes, but it’s also a classic sensory activity that will keep young kids busy for many minutes at a time.
Busy Toddler’s Susie Ellison gives us directions on Instagram on how to create a station like this:
Allison suggests using a combination of these materials:
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Shaving gel
- Droppers for medicines
- Formula paddles
- Spoons
- Peri bottles
You can use whatever cups, bowls, scoops, and tools you have in your home. She dyed the vinegar because she’s so cool, but you can skip this part if you want it to be a little less messy. If you want to see this in action, she includes a video in the post where the kids describe what they are cooking, which is amazing. (“I made a volcano!”)
However, Allison adds a couple of important caveats . First, keep a close eye on the children as they do this to prevent any mixture from getting into their mouth or eyes (you can also ask them to wear glasses to be safer).
Second, make sure you are using a container that you can carry into your home and drain down the drain. When Allison started cleaning, she realized that she had no easy way to get the trash back inside to get rid of it. Therefore, do not use a sandpit or water table (unless there is a drain in it). Instead, choose a storage container that you can carry back for rinsing. Or, to do something inside, throw them in the bathtub and let it brew there.