Exciting Scientific Ways to Explore Colors with Your Child

   Lets be honest... Colors are fun and mixing them... well that's just awesome!  It is also the key to integrating science into your child's art experiences. Here are some colorful experiment ideas for your child to explore:

*Color Changing Flower Experiment: You're going to need white cut flowers (carnations, tulips, roses), a vase, water and some liquid watercolors or food coloring. Your child will be fascinated watching how the flowers transform as they drink up the colored water. What happens if once the flower starts turning red, you place it in blue colored water? Introduce the idea to your child as an experiment and without giving away the result. Remind them that process will take time. This is the perfect activity to incorporate into the discussion of plants, gardening or Spring time. Encourage and/ or assist your child in documenting the changes they notice. They can draw pictures and explain to you their observations as you or they write them down.

*Coffee Filter Color Mixing: Coffee filters are a great and inexpensive canvas for your child to explore blending colors. You can do this in a number ways. Liquid water colors with eye droppers is my personal favorite. Not only does it feel more scientific for your child while they practice using the eyedroppers to distribute colors but the colors come out the most vibrant. An easy alternative would be to use Crayola markers and have you child decorate the filter, then watch what happens when they spray down their designs with water. They will love using the spray bottle! I recommend placing the wet coffee filters on watercolor paper or some kind thick paper. The markings their designs leave are gorgeous.

* Moving Colors in Milk Experiment: You'll need a small plate (with some dip to it so it can hold the milk), food coloring, milk, dish soap and Q-tips. Pour some milk onto the plate so it covers the entire bottom surface. Allow your child to drop colors into the milk with food coloring. They can choose how they want to arrange the colors, but encourage them to keep them fairly close together. Talk to them about creating patterns. When their design is finished, allow the child to dab dish soap into areas of their design using a Q-tip. Make sure to take it slow and experience the results of each dab. Watching the colors move and swirl is always exciting and designs will vary every time.

*Blending Colors on Cloth: You'll need an old bed sheet for this one, along with some Sharpie markers, spray bottle or dropper and rubbing alcohol. Depending on the child(ren)'s age, this one definitely requires supervision. Cut the sheet into a manageable size (maybe a little smaller than a washcloth). One sheet will provide for multiple works of art. Have your child decorate the material using the Sharpies. Encourage the child to fill the entire space. Decorating a white t-shirt could also be fun. After the design is complete use a dropper or spray bottle to distribute the rubbing alcohol on the material. If you decide to do a t-shirt, make sure to place a piece of thick cardboard or cookie sheet pan inside the shirt to prevent colors from blending onto the back. Watch and enjoy as the magic happens!

*Coming Together of Colors Experiment: This one is easy. All you need are two glasses, liquid watercolor or food coloring, some paper towel and water. Fill each glass with different colored water. I recommend starting with two primary colors to investigate how to make secondary colors. Place the glasses side by side and connect them using a rolled up paper towel with one end tipped in each glass. Where the colors meet after being absorbed by the paper towel will answer their color mixing questions. I definitely recommend using this as a tool to discuss how different colors are made, primary vs. secondary colors as well as cause and effect.

    These ideas are fun no matter how they are presented but the more thoughtful and excited you are about them, the more excited the children will be. Use words and terms such as: investigate, observations, experiment,  cause & effect, and results to enhance the experience.

Good luck and have fun!