Potion Making for Kids

Happy Presidents Day! School was out, so it was a perfect time for a cousin sleepover. Gavin is lucky to have an amazing relationship with his cousin Parker who is a couple years younger than him. We got a few inches of snow yesterday and they were extremely happy to get out and romp around in it! In fact, they wouldn't even stay still long enough for me to get a non-blurry picture :)

Every time these boys have a sleepover, movie night is a must! This time was no different :) The boys picked Cat in the Hat and Paul provided them each with a personal treat bag with popcorn, candy and juice. When I went to check on them, I found them both asleep on Gavin's top bunk. It was adorable.



Another tradition when we get them together is Potion Making, an activity that I came up with a couple years ago. They loved it so much that it has been a common request ever since. One of the fun things about making potions is that the kids get to decide whether their potion will make them have super strength or x-ray vision. Sometimes it has even given them the ability to fly! That way, it extends the activity beyond just mixing up the potions.

Despite the fact that Paul and I are not big drinkers, we have a large collection of shot glasses. Making potions tends to be the only way they get used nowadays :) In the interest of equality, I try to give them both the same amount and sizes of shot glasses. I fill each one with a different liquid. This time I used Sprite, grape juice, water, apple juice and Hawaiian Punch.

Then I give them a large cup to pour different amounts of their ingredients into. We've also determined that different abilities require the ingredients to be added in different orders. Today, Gavin was working on a potion for invincibility and Parker was working on invisibility.

I also make them guess what each liquid is, so they have to smell and taste each component as they work on their potion. After they are done adding everything in and mixing it up, it is time to try their creation.

They are always very brave about drinking whatever potion they've made and today was no different! They also correctly guessed all of the ingredients :) After they polished off their entire glass, Gavin and I made a big show out of not being able to see Parker, then I poured them each more ingredients to make a second potion!

By the time Parker's mom came to pick him up, both boys were exhausted but happy from a fun time together! We had a great Presidents Day, I hope you did too.

See you soon,