Toddler activity: fizzy fun for everyone

Engage curiosity with this creative concoction from Bright Ideas for young minds, a new book compiled by Kiwi early childhood educators and experts.
ERUPTING CHALK ICE
This activity creates a sense of wonder as your child experiments with icy chalk, creating pictures that fizz when vinegar is added.
You will need:
🔹 ¼ cup baking soda
🔹 ¼ cup cornflour
🔹 ½ cup water|
🔹Two bowls
🔹 Food colouring or watercolour paint – enough to colour the mixture
🔹 Ice cube tray
🔹 Freezer
🔹 Concreted area
🔹 Vinegar
🔹 Old clothing or waterproof apron for your child (this can get messy!)
Method:
- Mix together baking soda, cornflour and water. Split the mixture into two separate bowls. Add a few drops of different-coloured food colouring or watercolour paint to each bowl. Pour each coloured mixture into separate ice cube trays and freeze.
- Once frozen, pop out the ice cube colours into separate bowls. The ice can be used like chalk to draw on concrete and will dry into a chalky texture. The different colours will look gorgeous as they melt and blend into each other.
- Ask your child to separate out a couple of the ice cubes and, together, pour a little vinegar onto the ice to watch the bubbly reaction. Alternatively, pour a little vinegar onto your child’s chalk art and watch the fizz.
Extract from Bright Ideas for Young Minds: 70 Step-By-Step Activities To Do At Home With Your Child, $39.95, Mary Egan Publishers.

AS FEATURED IN ISSUE 40 OF OHbaby! MAGAZINE. CHECK OUT OTHER ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE BELOW
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