Exploding paint bags

Your toddler or preschooler will love making their own exploding paint bags!

A fun science and outdoor messy play activity that’s easy to do at home.

All you need to do is make your own chalk paints and then watch as the paint bags explode with a ‘pop’!

Have a go at this easy exploding paint bags recipe from our friends at Mud Mates.

Experiment with the ingredients to get the best explosion … and most excitement from your toddler or preschooler!
 

Exploding paint bags

 

What you’ll need for your exploding paint bags

 

• 2 cups cornflour
• 2 cups white vinegar
• Large bowl
• Spoon
• 6 sandwich size ziplock bags
• Food colouring (a variety of colours)
• Paint brushes
• Paper to paint on (optional)
• Baking soda (optional)
• Paper towels (optional)

 

How to make your exploding paint bags

1. To make your chalk paint, mix together equal parts of cornflour and vinegar in a large bowl.

2. Divide the chalk paint mixture into the ziplock bags.

3. Add a few drops of food colouring to each bag.

4. Shake the bags to make sure the cornflour doesn’t settle to the bottom of the bags.

5. Now it’s time to set up the explosion. Partially open the ziplock bags and then add around a tablespoon of baking soda to each bag. Seal the bags tightly.

6. Get your toddler or preschooler to throw the bags down on the ground – and wait for them to explode. Your paints bags will blow up and burst open. The vibrant chalk paint will bubble and run out of the bag.

7. Get out the paint brushes and let your toddler or preschooler paint on a concrete path or on pieces of paper.
 

From exploding paint bags to baking soda bombs

Take your exploding paint bags to another level and turn them into baking soda bombs for a different experience.

1. Cut a piece of paper towel into a medium sized square and place a tablespoon or so of baking soda in the middle. Then fold the paper towel up around it to make your baking soda bomb. Repeat for each bag of exploding paint.

2. Once you have your bags of exploding chalk paint ready pop a baking soda bomb into each bag and quickly seal the bags tightly, before getting your toddler or preschooler to throw them on the ground.

The slower chemical reaction means a delayed explosion and time to enjoy the build-up waiting for the bags to explode.
 

Tips for your exploding paint bags

 

• The more mixture in each bag, the bigger explosion, but the reaction and resulting ‘pop’ also happens very quickly. If you’d prefer a bit of suspense before the pop, don’t fill the bag too much.

 

• The more food colouring you use the brighter and more vibrant the colour of the mixture.

 

• Depending on the amount of chalk paint mixture and baking soda you’ve used, you may need to shake the bag up a little to get the ingredients reacting with one another.

More kids activities articles to enjoy:

• Edible mud sensory play activity
• Fly swat painting for toddlers & preschoolers
• How to make colourful soap slime

Source: This article was written by Mud Mates - Taking care of messy kids with protective over-garments, perfect for dirty, messy play, indoors and out.