Experiments for Kids
14 amazing experiments using ingredients from your kitchen and bathroom, explained step by step.
Why is the sky blue? How can a ship float even though it's made of metal? Kids are always asking questions that are best shown rather than explained. That's exactly what experiments are for. They turn a question into a little adventure where wonder and understanding come together effortlessly.
The great thing about the experiments here is that you don't need a lab or expensive equipment. You can find almost everything in your kitchen or bathroom; baking soda, dish soap, cornstarch, or some food coloring are often all you need. It's a good idea to set up a workspace beforehand and plan a little time for cleaning up afterward, so nothing goes wrong.
We've put together 14 of our favorite experiments for you, each explained individually and linked with complete instructions. From volcanic eruptions to galaxies in a jar, there's something for every age and preference.
Classics with a Wow Factor
These experiments are sure to bring bright smiles. You only need a few ingredients, yet they deliver impressive results.
Build a Volcano
With baking powder, vinegar, and a bit of red food coloring, you can create a small volcano that erupts right in your garden or on the kitchen table. The mixture bubbles and froths like real lava, guaranteed to get a loud wow! It's a classic that works for all ages and can be repeated as often as you like.
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DIY Lava Lamp
All you need is water, oil, food coloring, and a fizzy tablet to create your own lava lamp that bubbles and sprays color right before your eyes. You'll also see why oil and water don't mix. Just toss in a new fizzy tablet, and the colorful spectacle starts all over again.
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Fireworks in a Jar: Your Own Mini Experiment
Without any noise or smoke, a little fireworks display of color emerges in a glass. Water and oil don’t mix, and that’s exactly what you’ll use to let drops of color dance slowly through the glass. It’s a calm, almost meditative experiment that captivates children.
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Galaxy in a Jar
With just a few simple ingredients, you can bring the starry sky right onto your shelf. Cotton, paint, and a little bit of glitter transform an ordinary jar into a small galaxy that shines in the children's room. After that, it can stay as decoration, keeping the wow moment visible for a long time.
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The Lemon Battery. Power from a Fruit.
With a few metal pieces, you can create a small battery inside a regular lemon that actually lights up a little bulb. Not every attempt works right away, and that's perfectly fine because experimenting and tinkering is part of the research process. When the light turns on, you'll feel an immense sense of pride.
View instructions →Magic Tricks with Dish Soap
Two little experiments, one big aha moment: Dish soap breaks the tension on the water's surface and creates amazing effects. Along the way, they show kids why washing hands with soap really makes a difference.
Experiment: Magical Milk Patterns
A plate of milk, a few drops of food coloring, and a cotton swab with dish soap are all you need for this little color spectacle. As soon as the dish soap touches the milk, the colors shoot off in all directions. It's an experiment that surprises every time, no matter how many times you've seen it before.
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Pepper and Soap - Experiment
Pepper floats calmly on the water, almost as if it's glued down. But as soon as a drop of dish soap is added, the pepper quickly rushes to the edge of the bowl. This is a great way to show kids what happens when we wash our hands with soap and why it's so important.
View instructions →For squishing, feeling, and touching
These experiments are all about getting your hands a little dirty. They are especially fun because of the feeling and kneading involved, inviting you to explore with all your senses.
Oobleck - Making Magic Mud
By mixing cornstarch and water, you create a substance that feels both solid and liquid depending on how you handle it. If you squeeze it quickly, it becomes hard like concrete, but if you relax your grip, it flows between your fingers. It's an experiment that can captivate kids for hours.
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Making Magic Slime
Here too, cornstarch and water transform into a mysterious substance that can be shaped, stretched, and kneaded. With a bit of food coloring, it turns into a colorful magical slime that's perfect for experimenting. It's ideal for anyone who loves to get messy and explore different textures.
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Homemade Snow
Baking soda and shaving cream mixed together create a soft, cold snow that you can hold in your hands and even shape into little snowballs. It's perfect for those days when there's no real snow outside, but you're really craving it. Just a heads up: this snow is only for playing, not for eating.
View instructions →Little Nature Wonders in a Jar
These experiments bring big natural phenomena into your child's room. With simple materials, they demonstrate how weather, light, and crystals really work.
Make Your Own Tornado in a Jar!
All you need is some water, a bit of dish soap, and a good swirl to create a little whirlwind in a glass. You can watch the vortex spin, narrow, and dissolve, all completely safe and easy to repeat. It's a great way to start a conversation about real tornadoes and whirlwinds.
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Rain Cloud in a Glass – Experiment for Weather Explorers
Shaving foam on top looks like a cloud, and food coloring slowly drips through until it starts to rain in the glass. This is a wonderful way to show how a cloud absorbs water until it can't hold it anymore and rain falls. It's a calming experiment where kids watch in fascination as the color slowly sinks down.
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Salt Crystal Lantern: Magic in a Jar
With just salt and water, you can grow small, sparkling crystals in a jar over several days, making it look truly magical. Add an LED tealight inside, and you've got a charming lantern. This is a fun experiment for patient explorers, and it's definitely worth checking in on each day.
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The Disappearing Rainbow. A Magical Experiment.
A brightly painted rainbow seems to disappear right before your eyes as soon as you hold it up correctly. There's a little trick involving some foil and a vase of water that shows how our eyes and light work together. In the end, the kids can proudly explain how the rainbow trick works.
View instructions →Noch mehr Inspiration?
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And if you're curious now: In our categories, you'll find many more experiments and ideas for exploring and discovering. Or check out the free Grubenfuchs app, where even more adventures await for little explorers.