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How to Make Fizzy Potions for Fun Sensory Play

by Melissa Garrett
August 1, 2024
glitter potion featured

Sensory play is so engaging for kids of all ages. Here’s how to how to make fizzy potions with baking soda, vinegar and glitter. Photo updates by the Editorial Team.

Updated August 2024

Summer and sensory play! They just go together. I love that the warm weather means those of us with aversions to mess can breathe a little easier by taking it all outsideSensory play is at its best outdoors where kids can engage all of their senses.

My go-to activity when sibling tension gets high or when a playdate reaches a lull has been the most awesome, easiest, most engaging bit of sensory wonder… Fizzy glitter potions!

It’s an incredibly simple set-up with a few ingredients that you probably already have around the house. These glitter potions have kept my kids (and their friends) occupied for long stretches of time, especially in that late afternoon, pre-dinner witching hour.

how to make fizzy potions pin
Photo by Andrea Martelle

Ready to find out how to bring fizzy glitter potions, giggles, and intense expressions of concentration and wonder to your own backyard?

How to Make Fizzy Glitter Potions

This post contains affiliate links.

Here’s what you need to set-up a fizzy glitter potion station…

  • Baking soda
  • White vinegar
  • Glitter
  • Liquid watercolor or food coloring
  • Ball jars, glasses, or other clear containers
  • Spoons or scoops
  • Squeeze bottles (optional)
  • Droppers or pipettes (optional)
  • A tray to contain the mess (or go tray-free if you’re outdoors, whatever you prefer!)

Time needed: 1 hour

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Set up the glitter potion station

    Set out a few containers with baking soda and spoons. You can use bowls or ball jars, or whatever you have on hand.

    Fill a few squeeze bottles or jars with vinegar and add food coloring or liquid watercolor as desired.

    If you have droppers or pipettes, they are really fun for squeezing the vinegar into the baking soda. Spoons work, too!

    And of course, set out some glitter! You can use shakers or just pour a mixture into a bowl like we did.

    fizzy potion set up

    Seriously, my favorite part about fizzy glitter potions is that you just can’t go wrong.

    fizzy potion tray set up

  2. Let the potion making begin!

    My kids like to start by spooning some baking soda into an empty bowl and then they start squeezing different colors of vinegar on top.

    fizzy glitter potions

    The fizzing part is pretty exciting!

    fizzy potion

  3. Keep on experimenting!

    As the kids continue to add more of baking soda, vinegar and glitter, you can often see the layers build up in the glass or jar; it looks amazing!

    fizzy potions

    Keep adding glitter, baking soda, vinegar, and repeat, repeat, repeat.

    My kids usually do keep doing this until they run out of baking soda and vinegar (so far, we haven’t been able to shake out all the glitter, but there is still time left this summer!)

    making fizzy potions

Once we’re out of baking soda and vinegar, we end up with glasses and bowls filled with layer upon layer of this baking soda + vinegar + glitter mixture.

So, what’s next? In my kids’ world, stir it all together and turn it into a goopy paste!

If your kids don’t naturally do this, you can try posing an open-ended “I wonder…” question, such as “I wonder what would happen if you mixed that all together?” or “I wonder what that would feel like in your hands?” (Talking to your kids about their sensory play is a lot like talking to them about their art.)

fizzy potions in bowls
Photo by Andrea Martelle

And I love that clean-up is such a snap when this kind of messy play is outside. Hooray!

If you haven’t tried sensory play with baking soda and vinegar, I hope this inspires you to channel your inner scientist / artist / chef / mess-maker!

More Sensory Play Ideas

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How to Make Fizzy Potions for Fun Sensory Play How to Make Fizzy Potions for Fun Sensory Play How to Make Fizzy Potions for Fun Sensory Play

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