| Here is an easy, inexpensive and fun kid experiment | | | | them to try out different things. You will be amazed at |
| for your next kid birthday party. | | | | the beautiful patterns they manage to create. Allow |
| This activity, which is strictly speaking a kid science | | | | them to repeat the process a few times. They'll get |
| experiment, can be used in any party as entertainment. | | | | the hang of it after one or two tries. If the kids are too |
| Even better: have a "Mad Chemist" theme and use | | | | small to do it themselves, you can do it as a |
| this idea as one of the kid experiments. | | | | demonstration. Or, why not just let them bring old |
| Fill a plate or saucer with milk and put in a few drops | | | | clothes with, put down lots of old newspapers and |
| of food coloring on top of the milk in different spots. | | | | allow them to make a big mess. They will love you for |
| The smaller the drops the better. | | | | it! |
| Use a spoon to pour a small amount of dishwashing | | | | Explanation: |
| liquid into the milk. Pouring it into the center works best. | | | | Water has a "skin" called surface tension. This is a |
| Now watch the colors dance and explode. | | | | force on the surface of water which pulls it inwards. |
| This might sound very simple to you, but I've done this | | | | Soap or dishwashing liquid breaks down the surface |
| a few times with kids aged 6 - 10 and was amazed at | | | | tension and stops the skin from forming. This stops |
| how much pleasure this gave them! Let them each do | | | | water sticking together in drops and so it flows more |
| their own - provide different colors and encourage | | | | easily into all the places where dirt collects. |