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What You Need
- A muffin tin, ice cube tray, or small clear cups
- Food coloring (red, yellow, blue) — or washable watercolor paints
- Water
- Pipettes / droppers (optional but makes it way more fun)
- A silicone mat underneath to catch drips
- White paper towels or coffee filters to blot and see results
How to Set It Up
- Fill three cups or muffin sections with water. Add a few drops of red to one, yellow to another, blue to the third.
- Leave several cups empty for mixing.
- Give your child the pipette or a spoon and invite them to mix colors into the empty cups.
- Ask: "What do you think will happen if we mix red and yellow?" Let them predict, then try.
- Blot onto a white paper towel to see the color clearly — the contrast is satisfying for little ones.
What Kids Are Learning
- Basic science thinking — predict, test, observe (the scientific method, toddler edition)
- Color theory — primary colors make secondary colors
- Cause and effect — "I did this and THIS happened"
- Fine motor — squeezing a pipette is excellent for hand strength
- Vocabulary — orange, purple, green, lighter, darker, mix, blend
Tips from Olya
- Use a white shower curtain liner or silicone mat on the table — full wipe-clean, zero stress.
- Pipettes from the dollar section keep this activity feeling special and different from painting.
- For older kids (4+): add white and black to explore tints and shades.
- The "I made brown" moment is always a great conversation — why does mixing everything make brown/grey?
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