3 Fun DIY Experiments To Bond With Your Child

April 4, 2022

Bonding with your children is one of the most precious things you can experience as a parent. Sometimes the simplest things can make the biggest impact, like these do-it-yourself (DIY) experiments you can do at home together. These projects are easy enough for beginners, but still challenging and entertaining. Not only will you have fun together, but you’ll also be teaching your child some important lessons in science. These fun children’s science experiments are perfect for bonding with your child and exploring the world around them together. Plus, they’re a great way to keep those little minds active and engaged! So get ready to have some fun and make memories with your child. Let’s get started with a few DIY experiments specially curated by our team at MindChamps PreSchool Australia!

What Skills Do Science Experiments Develop In My Child?

After extensive years of experience working with children at MindChamps, our preschool specialists in Australia have found that stimulating their curiosity with hands-on experiments is an ideal way to help them learn about science. A study at Harvard substantiates this theory that students learn best by doing. Beyond giving your young ones opportunities to discover different scientific concepts through their senses, our educators uncovered that children’s science experiments nurtures additional important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, how to do research and perseverance. When experiments are conducted at home, it is an invaluable chance for them to understand the value of cooperation as they will naturally discuss predictions and observations with each other.

1. Lava Lamp

Items:

  • Plastic bottle or glass jar
  • Water
  • Vegetable oil/mineral oil/ baby oil
  • Fizzing tablets
  • Food colouring

Steps:

  1. Pour water into the bottle till it is about ¼ filled with water.
  2. Add the vegetable oil into the bottle using a measuring cup with a sprout or a funnel till it is nearly at the brim. Wait a few minutes to see the oil and water separate.
  3. Drip a few drops of food colouring. Observe the food colouring sinking through the oil.
  4. Break your fizzy tablet in half before placing part of it into the bottle and watch bubbly blobs rise.
  5. Prepare a torch, switch off the lights and drop the other half of the tablet in. Let your child shine the torch through the lava lamp while the blobs are bubbling and ta-da, you have your lava lamp!

How it works:

The science behind this experiment is the concept of density – how oil floats on top of the water as it is less dense, or lighter, than water. Due to having the same density as water, the food colouring sinks through the oil and mixes with the water. When the fizzy tablet dissolves it produces gas. The density of gas is lighter than water, so it floats to the top. Rising to the top, the air bubbles bring the coloured water with them. As the air escapes the water blob, the water becomes heavy and sinks.

2. Melting Rainbow Ice

Items:

  • Dishes or bowls
  • A big tray with sides
  • Rock salt
  • Food colouring
  • A spoon or droppers

Steps:

  1. Create the ice by filling a bowl or bowls with water before freezing overnight.
  2. After the ice is ready, prepare your tray and tip your ice ‘domes’ onto the tray.
  3. Lightly drizzle your rock salt over the ice domes’ peaks and observe any changes that occur.
  4. Using either the dropper or spoon, drip drops of food colouring over the ice domes. Try using different colours for differing effects, and draw your child’s attention to how the ice melts once in contact with the salt.

How it works:

This colourful experiment is an illustrative way to introduce chemistry to your children – explain how sodium (Na) from salt (NaCl) undergoes a chemical reaction when in contact with ice by heating and melting it, and how salt diffuses in different water temperatures.

3. Bean In A Jar

Items:

  • A broad bean seed
  • Jar
  • Kitchen roll or a napkin
  • Water

Steps:

  1. Swirl some water around in a jar.
  2. Fold your napkin or kitchen roll, dampen it slightly and put it at the bottom of the jar.
  3. Gently position the seed resting on the napkin.
  4. Spray a little amount of water on the bean every few days.

How it works:

Through this simple experiment, you can explain to your child how seeds need water for germination, or the spouting of a seedling from a seed, to take place. After a seed absorbs water, it begins swelling up, the outer layer of the seed cracks before the roots start to grow through.

Help Your Child Explore The World Around Us With MindChamps PreSchool

Bonding with your child is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. With these experiments that can be done in the convenience of your own home, not only will you get to spend time together, but you’ll also be teaching your little one some important scientific principles.

Also, if you’re searching for an enriching early childhood education experience for your little one, MindChamps PreSchool in Australia is the perfect place. Our centre offers a range of programs that focus on early childhood education and development. The unique approach to teaching taken by MindChamps PreSchool helps children develop their cognitive skills while having a blast. Contact us today to learn more about our programs and schedule a tour of our centres in various locations across Australia!