Scientific experiments for children, or how to teach and entertain the youngest

Science experiments for kids are a great form of fun for the whole family. Children can perform them independently, under the watchful eye of adults.

What should be kept in mind before conducting experiments?

Through scientific experiments children learn about the world around them, so it is important

• choose simple experiments that can be easily explained to your child;
• choose experiments that are fun for both children and adults;
• using everyday objects;
• performing experiments with safe substances;
• explaining the chemical reactions to the child.

10 simple experiments

1. Fresh and stale eggs

Preschoolers can be shown how to tell if an egg is fresh. Place an egg in two glasses of water – one fresh and one stale. Show the child that a fresh egg settles to the bottom, while a stale egg floats on the surface. After the experiment, break the two eggs and show the child the differences between them.

2. Lemon juice breaks a balloon

After inflating a balloon, sprinkle lemon juice on it. The balloon will burst. There is limonene in lemon juice, which weakens the rubber used to make balloons.

3. Colored lava

To do this experiment you will need:

• a clear vase,
• oil,
• water,
• food coloring,
• an effervescent tablet.

Performing the experiment:

Pour the oil into the vase and then pour the dye-tainted water into the vase. When the water is at the bottom, drop the effervescent tablet into the vase. As a result, the water will be thrown outside and the oil will stay inside the vase.

4. Chemical egg

To perform this experiment you will need:

• soda,
• vinegar,
• oil,
• a clear jug,
• food coloring,
• two empty glasses,
• a syringe or a nasal aspirator.

Perform the experiment step by step:

1. Pour water into one of the glasses and vinegar into the other
2. Add a different food coloring to each glass and mix.
3. Pour the entire package of baking soda into the bottom of the pitcher, then gently pour in the oil to ¾ of its height.
4. Using a syringe or pear, scoop the colored vinegar and water, sprinkling into the pitcher.

5. Controlled Explosion

To perform this experiment you will need:

• a tall dish,
• a bowl,
• 0.5 l of water,
• 0.2 l of vinegar,
• 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid,
• a few drops of food coloring,
• half a packet of soda.

Performing the experiment:

In a tall dish, mix water with dishwashing liquid, vinegar and food coloring. Place the dish with the water in the bowl and pour the soda inside, which will cause the explosion.

6. Colorful plate

• colored candy such as skittles,
• a white paper plate,
• water.

Performing the experiment:

Arrange the colored candies alternately on the plate. Then gently pour water on the plate. After a while, a rainbow will appear on the plate.

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7. Homemade dougholine

To make the dougholine you will need:

• 6 heaping tablespoons of potato flour,
• 3 teaspoons of hair conditioner,
• a few drops of food colouring
• bowl.

How to make the dougholine:

In a bowl, mix all the ingredients very thoroughly and knead until the dougholine is soft and malleable. When the mixture is ready, you can put it into a plastic container and store it for a few days to dry.

8. Artificial snow

Artificial snow is an experiment especially recommended in winter. To make it you will need:

• 0.5 kg of potato flour,
• oil,
• bowl.

How to make artificial snow:

Pour the flour into a bowl, add a little oil and knead. Again add a little oil and knead. Keep kneading the mixture until the ingredients come together.

9. Dye rain

To make this experiment you will need:

• jar,
• water,
• shaving foam,
• dissolved food coloring,
• a pear or syringe.

How to do the experiment:

Pour the water into the jar to ¾ of its height. Fill the rest of the jar with shaving foam. Using a pipette or syringe, squirt food coloring onto the foam, which will create a spectacular rain after a while.

10. Colored roses

To change the color of the flowers you will need:

• three white roses,
• three glasses of water,
• three different food colourings.

How to do the experiment:

Dissolve a different food coloring in each glass of water. Then cut the rose stems lengthwise and place each flower in a separate glass. When exposed to the dye, the color of the flowers will change – this experiment takes time.

Main photo: Robo Wunderkind, source: unsplash.com