Fizzy Baking Soda and Vinegar Tray

Baking soda (a whole box)

White vinegar

Food coloring

A baking tray or shallow bin

Squeeze bottles or droppers

Spread a thick layer of baking soda across a tray or shallow bin.

Dot food coloring directly onto the baking soda — red, blue, yellow spots scattered around.

Fill squeeze bottles or small cups with vinegar.

Show your child how squeezing vinegar onto the baking soda creates an exciting fizz.

Let them target different colored spots, watching the bubbling reaction and color mixing.

Encourage experimenting: "What happens with more vinegar? What about just a tiny drop?"

When fizzing stops, sprinkle more baking soda on top and start again.

This is a real chemical reaction (acid-base), so you're introducing genuine science through play.

Droppers and squeeze bottles build hand strength and finger control — the same muscles needed for writing.

The fizzing sound, bubbling texture, vinegar smell, and color mixing hit four senses at once.

Try burying small plastic gems in the baking soda before adding vinegar — a fizzy treasure excavation.

Do this on a tray with raised edges to contain the spreading liquid.