Got too much Halloween candy hanging around? Try these Halloween science experiments to use up that candy you don’t want to eat
Looking to unload some of your kids’ massive candy stash? Make like Bill Nye and use it up in Halloween science experiments. From melting marshmallows to growing Gummy Bears, make good use of your leftover Halloween sweets with these 10 yummy science experiments for kids. Bonus points for making a hypothesis and taking notes on each science project!
Try putting certain candies like candy corn into test tubes and see the different reactions! Try it with vinegar, soda, or whatever you can come up with.
Skittles Rainbow
You'll be doing more than just tasting the rainbow. Put some Skittles into water and marvel as the colored coating dissolves into an Instagram-worthy design. Head to Little Bins for Little Hands to get the science behind the sugar.
Exploding Peep Geysers
Melissa Heckscher
Poor Peeps; they're just so much fun to torture. This easy science experiment teaches your kids a little bit about how microwaves work—at the expense of a few marshmallow candies. Just put those Peeps into a bottle, stick ‘em in the microwave, and watch as they erupt. It's quick and sticky fun, but kids will love watching those sugary faces expand and explode. Get all the details at Housing a Forest.
Kids will happily hand over an entire pack of Mentos to watch a soda geyser explode skyward. Just drop a few Mentos into a bottle of soda and stand back! Charlene at My Frugal Adventures explains how it's done.
Gummy Bear Science
Melissa Heckscher
Plunk a few Gummy Bears into different solutions and let them sit for a few days to see what happens. Kids will love checking in on their bears every day for a status update. Get more ideas on how to do it here.
M&Ms may not melt in your hands, but it turns out they may not last so long when plopped into a cup of water. Kids will love watching the "m" peel off their m&ms; parents will love the patience this experiment requires of their little scientists. Little Bins for Little Hands has the scoop.
Dancing Gummy Worms
Bitz 'n Giggles
Observe as a simple chemical reaction makes a bunch of yummy Gummy Worms come alive. Younger kids will think you've actually put life into candy; older kiddos will be simply mesmerized. Sara at Bitz 'n Giggles takes you step by step through the process (Note: Make sure your baking soda is fresh; we tried this with long-opened baking soda and our worms hardly moved).
Jellybean Taste Test
Christie at Childhood 101
Your child might say he likes blue jelly beans the best, but is it a taste thing? This experiment explores the relationship between sight and taste as kids are asked to identify the kind of bean they’re tasting without seeing it. Christie at Childhood 101 has more.
This experiment lets kids make a hypothesis and test it. Which candies will sink, which will float— and why? Get more ideas here.
Balancing with M&Ms
Inspiration Laboratories
Give kids a simple physics lesson with this experiment that lets them balance various objects against a handful of m&ms. Another opportunity for kids to hypothesize— and a great excuse for them to eat enough m&ms to make the scale even. Get inspired from Mama Trisha at Inspiration Laboratories.
Candy + Balloons + Soda = ?? See what happens when you fill a balloon with Pop Rocks and dump it all into a bottle of soda. Then, try it again with Nerds candy. Your kids will be amazed at which one blows the bigger balloon. Get the simple steps over at Learn Play Imagine.
Frozen carbon dioxide, a.k.a. dry ice, is frozen at a temperature of negative 109 degrees Fahrenheit
Experimenting with ice is cool. But dry ice experiments are even cooler! Unlike the ice cubes in your freezer, dry ice doesn’t melt into liquid. Instead, these blocks sublimate, which means instead of transforming from a solid to a liquid, dry ice goes from a solid to a gas. With the proper precautions, this type of science experiment for kids is safe—so grab gloves and tongs, open a window or take the CO2 outdoors, follow these guidelines from the National Weather Service, and check out these awesome dry ice experiments.
The air from your lungs isn’t the only way to blow up a balloon. This chilly experiment from Science Kiddo helps your budding scientist explore the properties of dry ice.
Check out this awesome overflowing dry ice volcano experiment from Life with Moore Learning! As if this isn’t enough fun, you'll also get a step-by-step guide to help your kids compare regular ice with dry ice and other freezing explorations.
Plan a Potion
iStock
Whether you want to make a witch’s brew for your family's Halloween monster bash or you just want to mix up a cool (literally) concoction, Our Best Bite’s Mad Scientist Potion has everything you need to make a mocktail that’s overflowing with fog.
Make your own at-home outdoor fog machine with two ingredients—dry ice and hot water. Remember, dry ice doesn’t melt into a liquid. Instead, it sublimates or turns into a vapor. Place blocks of dry ice into a glass or bucket of hot water and then stand back and watch as the fog pours across your yard!
Can dry ice help extinguish a candle quickly? Your littles can easily blow out their bday cake candles, but have they ever used dry ice to make a flame go away? Head over to Life with Moore Learning for the how-to steps to this easy science exploration.
How can your kids make a crystal ball? Gather a few pieces or pellets of dry ice, a bowl, dish soap and a kitchen towel. Put the dry ice into the bowl, add hot water and watch the fog show begin. Even though this is exciting, it’s not where the experiment ends. Dip the dish towel into a soapy solution, and spread it around the rim of the bowl. Gently pull the soap-soaked towel across the bowl and watch as a ball-like bubble emerges in front of your eyes.
Compare and Contrast
Erica Loop
How does dry ice melt? The answer isn't regular ice. While you might already know this, your child doesn’t. Freeze water, juice, soda, milk, and any other liquid you want. Put the frozen liquid cubes on plates and create a comparison plate with dry ice. Watch each ice option carefully. Your child can jot down what happens to each piece of ice and when.
If you have boxes of plastic or latex gloves hanging around your home, forget about cleaning. It’s time to put these gloves to scientific use, as they are a great substitute for balloons. Drop a shred of dry ice into the glove, tie the end and watch it magically grow. Hint: Don’t use too much dry ice for this experiment. A pellet will do. Overdoing it with the frozen CO2 might create too much gas, causing the glove to burst.
You’ve covered dry ice with water and watched it fog. But what happens if you put the frozen CO2 into a bath of bubbles? Use your kiddo’s paddling pool or fill the sand table with a water and bubble solution or dish soap mix. Ask your child to predict what will happen as the dry ice sublimates. Observe the bubbles as the CO2 gas fills the water and moves into suds.
Magical Disappearing Ice
iStock
When regular ice melts it leaves behind a puddle, but the same isn't true for dry ice. Again, the sublimation process causes it to turn into a gas state. Help your child learn more about the states of matter with easy observation-based science exploration. Place a piece of dry ice in a bowl outside on a warm day or in the sun. Ask your child to predict what they think will happen to the dry ice. Go back later in the day and take a look at the bowl. Like magic, the ice is gone, and nothing is left behind. Discuss what happened. Your child can hypothesize where the ice went and why there is no water in the bowl.
While this recipe certainly wouldn’t satisfy chicken parm traditionalists, we can’t help but love how easy it is
Once again the crock pot comes to the rescue for this version of chicken parm. Merely throw all three (yes, it only takes three!) ingredients, cook on low for 6-8 hours and you’ve got a hearty meal. Since this Crock Pot chicken parmesan recipe doesn’t require dredging the chicken in egg and bread crumbs, the cleanup is oh-so-easy as well. Be sure to check out our other favorite crock pot recipes!
Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan Ingredients:
18 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
Preparation Method:
1. Place chicken in the crock pot. If you’re using frozen chicken tenders, no need to thaw.
2. Pour the spaghetti sauce over the chicken and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
3. Before serving sprinkle the cheese over the chicken and sauce. Re-cover to let the cheese melt.
From squares to cylinders, the traditional grilled cheese sandwich has just been reinvented thanks to My Little Gourmet. And they only take 10 minutes to make! Serve these grilled cheese roll-ups as a snack or accompaniment to some hot tomato soup (we’re sure the roll-up shape makes it more fun for the kids). We’ve got more easy toddler lunch ideas here.
Serving size 2
Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups Ingredients:
4 slices of sandwich bread
4 slices of cheese (recommend gouda)
1 tablespoon butter
Method:
1. Cut the crusts off of the bread.
2. Roll each slice flat with a rolling pin.
3. Place a slice of cheese on each piece of bread and roll up tightly.
4. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat.
5. Place the rolls, seam-side down, in the pan and press down so that they don’t unravel.
6. Rotate until golden brown on each side and the cheese is melted.
Laura Leer is a mom and writer of My Little Gourmet. She lives in Berlin with her husband and 2-year-old son, Arik, who are the main taste testers of her delicious meals. For more kid-friendly recipes, check out her blog here.
If your kids love pasta but you want to change up your dinnertime routine, try out this easy Baked Ziti. Make it ahead of time and bake it when needed. From the refrigerator, the dish usually needs an additional 15 minutes of cooking time.
Ingredients for Easy Baked Ziti:
1 pound dry ziti pasta
1 finely chopped onion
1 lb ground beef
2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
8 slices of provolone cheese
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook for about 8-9 minutes; drain.
2. In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, heat through, then remove from heat.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking oil spray.
4. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, 1/2 of the sauce, Provolone cheese, sour cream, remaining ziti, remaining sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
5. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the cheeses are melted. Cover with foil for the first 15-20 minutes of baking, then remove the foil so the cheese will melt and the top will brown.
Introduce your kids to fish with this easy recipe that only requires five ingredients
Getting kids interested in eating fish can be tricky, but mild white fish covered in a crunchy parmesan crust is one dish anyone can get excited about. Created by !Hola! Jalapeño, this is a perfect starter recipe if you are just introducing your little ones to fish. With just a few simple ingredients you can serve a healthy, tasty dinner… and watch it disappear. After you’ve tried this one, check out our other easy dinner recipes.
Ingredients for Parmesan-Crusted Fish
4 (6oz) fresh white fish fillets, such as tilapia, halibut, or cod
1 lemon or lime, cut in half
salt
1/2 c whole wheat panko
1/4 c grated Parmesan
2 tbsp butter
Preparation Method
1. Squeeze the lemon or lime over both sides of the fish fillets and season the fish with salt.
2. Combine the panko and Parmesan in a small bowl and sprinkle over both sides of the fish, generously coating the fish all over. Press the Parmesan mixture into the fish so it sticks.
3. Heat butter over medium heat in a non-stick frying pan. Once melted and foaming, add fish in a single layer (you may have to do this in batches depending on the size of your pan). Cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until the crust is golden brown and the fish is firm to the touch.
Kate from !Hola! Jalapeño is a chef, cookbook editor, and food writer who strives every day to make meals her whole family will eat—with a couple of picky eaters in the house that is no easy feat. You can follow her cooking triumphs at holajalapeno.com.
A darling of the seventies, fondue calls to mind mod vintage kitchenware in avocado and orange hues, but its revival is well underway. This DIY meal brings together the happy pairing of the utmost comfort foods: carbs and melted cheese or chocolate. It also brings the family together like no other meal, with skewers around a communal pot. Not sure you want the little ones leaning in to share from a cauldron of hot goo in your own home? There are plenty of NYC spots that can show you how it’s done.
Kashkaval Garden
The snug Kashkaval began as a cheese store so it’s no surprise it has become a premiere fondue destination. Kids are welcome here and the restaurant has just opened a second room. Kashkaval is Bulgarian and while not a tradition of the region, the cheese fondue taps into its Mediterranean feel. There are several different cheese fondue blends to choose from and staff are tight lipped about their recipes. There’s currently a seasonal cheddar and cider fondue on offer and the chef is open to testing out new cheeses to see what works. You’ll get a sliced baguette to dip or you can pick a plate of fruit and veg or meat.
Max Brenner
Your little one will feel like a candy king or queen with a trip to this chocolatey realm on Broadway. Max Brenner takes the guilt out of chocolate and offers kids the opportunity to get unapologetically messy with it. The fondue is no exception – dubbed the Fondue Tower, you will be presented with a bowl of sponge cake, marshmallows, cookies, berries and bananas to dip into stacked pots of melted dark, milk or white chocolate. You can pick a warm toffee sauce if chocolate isn’t your thing. But really? Do not expect to get out of here without evidence of indulgence all over your face.
841 Broadway
Union Square
646-467 8803
Online: maxbrenner.com
Murray’s Cheese Bar
Murray’s isn’t set up with high chairs or a kids menu but they do offer a mean fondue and are happy to share their cheese passion with the younger generations. It’s a small space next to their cheese store and it can get fairly loud and crowded so getting a table soon after they open at 11 a.m. on the weekends would work best with little ones. You won’t find fondue on the menu, but you will find fondue’s equally indulgent cousin, raclette, where melted cheese is scraped directly onto your plate to accompany your meal.
Le Fond
This small neighborhood restaurant promises affordable riffs on the french bistro experience. Cheese fondue, a customer favorite, is offered here by request with 24 hours notice. Chef and owner, Jake Eberle, says kids love the interactive experience of the fondue and adds that, when he was growing up, the forfeit for losing the food on the end of your skewer was to kiss the person on your left. The veggie option includes bread, fingerling potatoes, green apples and crispy roasted brussels sprouts. The cheese is a gruyere blend made in-house and you can add steak to the menu for an extra $6.
105 Norman Ave.
Greenpoint
718-389 6859
Online: lefondbk.com
The Melting Pot
The Melting Pot is a national chain with more than one hundred stores nationwide. Causal and cozy, staff here are fondue pros and they offer cheese, meat and chocolate options. The Wisconsin cheddar mix with beer and mustard is the most popular with young families but there are five other blends to choose from including the classic Alpine with swiss cheese, garlic, wine and nutmeg. Dip bread, veggies and slices of apple. The meat fondue can be cooked by the guest or the server. For dessert, choose between a dark, milk, or white chocolate fondue with fruit and cake to dip. They’ll also throw in pecans and marshmallows to the chocolate blend for the ultimate in indulgence.
30 Mamaroneck Ave.
White Plains, NY
914-829-4404
2377 Broadhollow Rd.
Farmingdale, NY
631-752-4242
Online: meltingpot.com
Staying Home
If the idea of fondue appeals but arming your kids with skewers in public makes you nervous, you can always try it at home.
You can buy heat-and-serve packets of cheese mix or a classic recipe would be to heat 1 2/3 cup of dry white wine in a saucepan. When it starts to boil, add 1 1/2lb of shredded Gruyere with a tablespoon of cornstarch or flour. Stir continuously for five minutes and when it’s melted pour it into a fondue pot over a gentle heat source. Cut up some bite-sized ingredients for dipping. It’s possible the kids will be so excited they won’t even notice they’re eating their veggies.
Whether you’re buried in a few feet of snow or just watching Frosty the Snowman on repeat, bring the wintry weather into your kitchen by whipping up some snowman-inspired treats. We’ve even got a recipe for the hot chocolate bomb that’s all the rage this year. Scroll down to get inspired—your little snow bunnies will love munching on these adorable snacks.
Melting Snowman Hot Chocolate Bombs
iStock
Unless you've been living under a pile of snow, you likely know that hot chocolate bombs are all the rage this year. Julie Blanner has a hot chocolate bomb recipe that's super easy to execute and guaranteed to delight the kids.
We love these little sushi snowmen from Busy in Brooklyn. With a seaweed scarf, a wasabi beret and (of course) a carrot nose, they’ll be a fantastic addition to your table.
For an indulgent treat, try these cute cookie dough bites from Sarah’s Bake Studio. Dipped in white chocolate and decorated to look like a smiling snowman, they’re quick to make and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Take a boring old bowl of soup to the next level with this amazing idea from Spice Up Your Life with a Taste of Japan. Made with a simple chowder base (which could be swapped out for your favorite soup recipe), the cheesy snowman topping becomes the star of the show.
How adorable are these snowman marshmallows from The Suburban Soapbox? These little guys will be the perfect topper for your cup of cocoa, and the kids can help decorate them with smiling faces.
Keep it simple (but still snowy) by making these delish cookies from Dear Crissy. Also known as Mexican wedding cakes or Russian tea cakes, they’re smothered in powdered sugar to make a super indulgent treat.
We can’t resist a good cake pop, and this snowman variety from 52 Kitchen Adventures is no exception. Made with a vanilla cake base, coated in creamy white chocolate and topped off with edible ink decorations, these cuties are bound to be a kid-favorite.
Your little ones will love finding this snowy surprise from Lisa Storms in their lunchbox. A simple sandwich becomes a snowman face, a few marshmallows and pretzels transform into snowmen and some extra “noses” on the side round the meal out.
Earth Day is Fri. Apr. 22 this year and if you’re looking for easy ways to show our planet some love, you’ve come to the right place. While topics like climate change may seem overwhelming, everyone can do their part by something as simple as recycling.
To make turning trash into treasure as easy as can be, lots of family-friendly companies have partnered with Terracycle, a social enterprise currently in 21 countries that is diverting tons of waste away from landfills. Keep scrolling to see how you can be a part of this movement with brands you already use, not to mention companies that have their own programs in the works.
Mon Coeur New Again Program
Clothing brand Mon Couer wants parents to send their used clothes back to be up or downcycled. The New Again Program offers 40% off your next purchase for sending in used clothing, which will reduce waste and over usage of fabrics and keep items out of landfills.
Once Upon a Farm
All those baby food, smoothies and applesauces pouches an be easily recycled with Terracycle. Clean them out, dry them off and ship off so they can be sorted and pelletized––ready for a new life.
Cerebelly
Food pouches are super convenient, especially for on the go, but they add up quickly. If you're at a loss for what to do with them, head to Terracycle to snag a printable label! Add it to a box of used pouches, ship and repeat.
Hasbro
Tired of storing old games and toys? Recycle them! Hasbro's recycling program takes your kiddos old My Little Pony, Play-Doh, GI Joe and more and transforms them into things like play spaces, park benches and flower pots so they can continue to bring joy.
Honest Drink Pouch
Kiddos love their juice! Rather than tossing in the trash, save up the aluminum and plastic pouches (you can even keep the straws!) for recycling. Make sure the pouches are empty before shipping. When they are received, they'll be melted into hard plastic so they can be reshaped into something new again.
Spin Master
CNW Group/Spin Master
The new Spin Master Recycling Program gives a second life to your toys. All you have to do is sign up on the TerraCycle program page and mail in your old toys. Your old toys will be cleaned and melted into hard plastic so they can have a new lease on life by being made into items like park benches and picnic tables.
Gerber
Gerber
There are tons of Gerber products you can recycle, like baby food packaging (but no glass!), shrink labels, plastic containers, plastic lids, flexible plastic pouches and small and large hook Gerber baby clothing hangers. Once you have a full box of products, just send in with a free label and your products will be recycled free of charge.
L.O.L. Surprise!
L.O.L. Surprise! dolls are super fun, but they come with a ton of wrapping! Now you don't have to wonder what to do with it all. Just pack it up and ship to Terracycle and they'll do the rest.
Colgate
Don't toss those old toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes into the trash! Check out the simple programs from Terracycle where you can drop off in person or mail in so those old products don't end up in a landfill.
Carter's
Carter's has recently partnered with Terracycle to bring you Kidcycle, a way to recycle old baby and kids clothes. Not only can you send them in or drop off for free, but all your packages can even earn you Rewarding Moments points, too!
Target Car Seat Trade In
Target
A few times a year Target's car seat trade-in keeps millions of pounds of plastic from landfills. All you have to do is drop off your old seat at a participating Target location, get a coupon and rest easy that you're saving the planet, one seat at a time.
Nordstrom BEAUTYCYCLE
iStock
We mamas have tons of products that could end up in the trash––or get recycled! Nordstrom's BEAUTYCYCLE program takes packaging from haircare, skincare, makeup and more so it doesn't head to a landfill. You can help them reach their goal of recycling 100 tons of packaging!
Stasher
Stasher bags already keeps tons of waste out of landfills, but even they don't last forever. When you send them in for recycling, they'll be. cleaned and ground into a crumb-like powder which is used for playground, athletic field or track ground cover.
Teva
Send your beloved Teva sandals on one last adventure through TevaForever. The recycling program turns them into melted hard plastic so they can go on to live in athletic and playground tracks.
VTech & LeapFrog
When your little has outgrown their fave learning or electronic toy, recycle it! The free program will melt down your old toys and transform them into materials used in new playground and park equipment.
And the award for cutest winter cake goes to…Baskin-Robbins! The ice cream company’s latest confection celebrates the season with an adorable Brrr the Snowman Cake. It playfully conjures up a scene from Frosty and it’s delicious, too!
The cake sits on a bed of “melting snow” icing and has an icing carrot nose and scarf. Its branch arms, buttons and smile are all made out of fudge and it’s topped with a cake cone and “melted” ice cream. You can customize the playful snowman with your choice of cake and ice cream flavors, but you’ll have to act fast next month before it melts for good!
Want to get this festive creation for free? Baskin-Robbins is giving away 1,000 free snowman cakes starting at 1 p.m. ET on Black Friday. Order online using the code SNOWMAN to try your luck. You can also enjoy 20% off online cake orders through Cyber Monday with the code HOLIDAY.
Finally, make sure you try the newest seasonal ice cream flavor, Gingerbread House. The December Flavor of the Month features gingerbread ice cream full of gingerbread cookie bites and classic peppermint pieces. Don’t forget the confetti drizzle!