Experiment-based play in childcare! Share the excitement with the children and have fun together
Indoor play with toys and outdoor activities are the basics of childcare, aren’t they?
But you might want to incorporate activities that are a little different from the usual…
Are there any teachers who feel that way?
In times like that, we recommend experiment-based play.
Experiment play is a fun activity that brings discoveries and surprises both during play and throughout the process.
This time, we’ve gathered experiment play ideas that preschool-aged children can safely enjoy.
It’s exciting to imagine how the children will react during these experiments!
Teachers, please join in and play together too.
Experimental play in childcare! Share the excitement with the children and have fun together (1–10)
Water moving through a straw?
Would you like to try a fun experiment where water moves on its own? All you need are two clear cups, a bendable straw, and water! Cut the bendable straw so that both sides are the same length with the flexible section in the middle.
First, fill one of the cups with plenty of water.
Next, fill the inside of the straw with water and then hold both ends with your fingers so it doesn’t spill.
Finally, insert each end of the water-filled straw into each cup, and you’re done.
The water will automatically travel from one cup to the other through the straw.
If you add color to the water, you can also enjoy watching the movement and how the colors mix.
This experiment uses the principle of a siphon.
Be sure to observe the mysterious movement of water together with children!
Paper Rainbow
Why not enjoy a paper rainbow experiment that’s sure to put kids in a happy mood? First, fold a paper towel into a rectangle and draw a rainbow with washable markers at both ends.
Leave the middle section uncolored and white.
Prepare two containers of water, then place each rainbowed end of the paper towel into a container so the ends are submerged.
That’s it! The colors will bleed and spread into the white section, forming a colorful rainbow.
You can just picture the kids’ smiles as the rainbow appears.
This experiment works on the same principle as capillary action—the way plants draw water up from the soil—so it’s a great chance to explain the concept in a way kids can easily understand and get more interested.
Water You Can Grab
Let’s make “grab-able water” with a squishy feel that tickles kids’ curiosity.
All you need are coins with holes (like 5-yen or 50-yen coins), water, and Chika Balloons sold at 100-yen shops.
First, apply the Chika Balloon over the coin’s hole just enough to cover it.
Next, run water from the faucet directly into the coin’s hole.
A droplet will form and drop beneath the coin, creating a spherical, grab-able blob of water.
Quickly seal the opening so the water doesn’t leak.
The kids are sure to have adorable reactions to this mysterious object! If you do this in a nursery or kindergarten, faucets may get crowded and it may take time to finish.
To keep things smooth, have the teacher demonstrate the process in front of the children, then let them play with ones you prepared in advance.
Jelly Soap
Let’s make jiggly soap that will make handwashing more fun.
First, put 250 ml of hot water and 30 g of gelatin into a heatproof glass and stir quickly.
Next, add 60 ml of liquid soap and this time stir slowly to avoid creating foam.
Then, pour the mixture into another cup that has a few drops of food coloring.
Finally, pour it into a silicone mold and let it set in the refrigerator for about 2 hours, and it’s done.
Kids are sure to love this cute soap with a bouncy, gummy- or jelly-like texture that’s totally addictive! Try making your favorite soap using different colors and shapes.
Purple cabbage experiment
Let’s nurture children’s curiosity, inquisitiveness, and reasoning skills through a fun experiment using red cabbage! First, tear the cabbage leaves and simmer them to make an extract.
Since you’ll be handling boiling water, the teacher should take care of this step.
Pour the purple extract into clear cups and add various everyday liquids to observe the color changes.
If you add lemon juice, it will turn pink; if you add baking soda, it will turn blue.
Because this experiment uses the properties of acids and bases, you can also enjoy color changes with vinegar or hand soap.
Ask the children, “What color will it turn?” and build anticipation as you mix different household liquids together and experiment.
Make Moon Sand with Just 2 Ingredients!
Let’s make moon sand and play with it—the curious texture is addictively fun.
Moon sand is a sandy dough that you can easily make by mixing flour and oil at a ratio of 8 to 1.
It feels loose and powdery to the touch, yet magically clumps together when you squeeze it.
It’s great because you can handcraft it and play indoors with ease.
Kids will surely be captivated by this brand-new sensation! You can enjoy the process together, color it with paint or food coloring, press it into molds—the play possibilities are endless.
It’s fun for a wide range of ages, from infants to kindergarteners.
Try it on a rainy day or whenever you’re indoors to engage children’s five senses!
Hard yet soft? Magic water
Let’s make “magical water” that’s both hard and soft, and have fun exploring its texture together.
All you need this time is water and potato starch! Just mix these two and your magical water is ready.
The simplicity of both the ingredients and the steps is a nice bonus.
When you apply a strong force straight down on the surface, the liquid becomes firm, but when you touch it gently, it turns soft—this strange and fascinating behavior is sure to captivate kids.
You can just picture them enjoying the sensations by touching it in all sorts of ways.
Try adjusting the ratio of potato starch to water or adding color to expand the play even more—highly recommended.