12 Pretend Potions Your Kids Can Create Today

Easy Five-Step Magic Potion

Keep it simple with The Spruce's five-step magic potion tutorial. We especially love the final step, which prevents potion spills! See the tutorial here. 

Love Potion Lava Lamp

Part love potion, part lava lamp, we're totally crushing on this concoction from Agnes at Hello, Wonderful. Using simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry, you can whip up your own version in no time. Click here to get started. 

Fizzy Fairy Potion

Little fairies will love this fizzy potion that sparkles too! We love that you only need five basic ingredients and, of course, a wand for stirring. Get all the details from Anna over The Imagination Tree.

Insider tip: after you've enjoyed a scientific discovery with your little fairies, tell the story. Check out our fill-in-the-blank fairy tale for enchanting fun. 

Mad Scientist Potion

This simple outdoor session is just lots of good (not so) clean fun. Find out what mama Jen used to set it all up over at Mama.Papa.Bubba

Witches Brew

White clouds of witches brew make these colorful drinks other-worldly. Dry ice is the key to this cool effect (parent-supervised of course); hot water and soap can thicken the spell. Bubble on over to Upstate Ramblings for the how-to from Anne.

DIY Lava Lamp

A little more effervescent than the lava lamp of the '60s, this potion made from oil, water, and Alka-Seltzer will get your kiddos all bubbly. These elixirs are easy-to-do and exciting to watch; Jamie from Hand On As We Grow has the instructions.

Rainbow Potion

Sweet and colorful, this sugary brew makes the gradient with sugar, water, food coloring, jars and a dropper. Your little wizard will be amazed at these layers. Pop-on over to Little Bins for Little Hands for the directions.

Insider tip: we're over the moon (errr...rainbow) for these science projects that will have you seeing all the colors. 

Glow-in-the-Dark Potion

Just glow with it. Potion-masters-in-training will need a little help from parents on this one, but the effort is worth the glow-in-the-dark effect. Ana Dziengel at Babble Dabble Do mixed corn syrup, baby oil, and water with a few "magic" ingredients for a luminous potion that doubles as a science experiment. Get your list of ingredients here.

Insider tip: keep the fun going with these glow-in-the-dark science experiments. 

Glittering Galaxies

Easy to make with minimal mess, little mix-masters can craft their own swirling nebulas with a mason jar, cotton, water, glitter and paint. You can thank Trisha over at MomDot for this mystical potion that just might get your little magician calm for her afternoon nap. Materialize instructions, here.

Wiggly Worm Brew

This magic brew is a little on the messy side (be sure to find the right spot before getting started), but it's hands-on slimy slithering fun. Head on over to Des Moines Parent, to get the how-to for coloring the spaghetti, then mixing in cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and water. The last step is to watch with your little wizards to see what happens next!

Have a Potion Party

Potion-making is as easy as mix, whisk, color, and create! Have your little wizards gather half-bottles of household items like shaving cream, and shampoo, then add spice and dabble-e-doo! You’ve got a magic potion party. This fanciful-fest was the inspiration of Bar Rucci over at ArtBar. Get the details here.

Garden Soup

Is there anything more natural than kids whipping up a little garden-centric potion on a warm, sunny day? Probably not, which is why we love the setup from Jackie over at Happy Hooligans. With just a few ingredients, your kids can get their dose of outdoor (hello, Reggio!) play in a cool setting. Head over to Happy Hooligans for the recipe.