Potion Lab: Invitation to Play

Potion Lab: Squeeze, Pour & Explore

Play Invitation, Planning & Printable Resources

A wonderfully messy, open-ended water play invitation designed to encourage children to squeeze, pour, scoop, spray, fill and mix. With coloured water, a few simple tools and plenty of freedom to investigate, Potion Lab turns an easy-to-create tray into an opportunity for children to experiment, repeat and discover. You don’t need every resource either — start with a few and see where their play takes them.     Early Years Potion Lab Booklet

It might look like messy water play, but look a little closer. Squeezing helps build hand strength and an understanding of pressure, pouring introduces quantity, capacity and control, filling explores full, empty and how much will fit, while scooping supports hand-eye coordination and transferring. Spraying introduces cause and effect, and mixing gives children the chance to watch colours and materials change right in front of them. No finished product. No right answer. Just figuring things out.     Early Years Potion Lab Booklet

The booklet also includes printable action cards for squeeze, pour, scoop, spray, mix and fill. Rather than becoming instructions children have to complete, the cards sit alongside the invitation to connect a word and image with an action children can actually experience. Simple repeated language such as more, full, empty and again can then be naturally woven into their play.     Early Years Potion Lab Booklet

There are also practical ideas for following children’s interests and deciding what to offer next. If they repeatedly fill, try different-sized containers. If they love squeezing, introduce another squeeze tool. If they keep transferring, add funnels or pipettes. The aim isn’t to keep adding more because the tray looks empty — add more because their play tells you something.     Early Years Potion Lab Booklet

Includes 6 printable action cards: Squeeze, Pour, Scoop, Spray, Mix & Fill.

Digital download | 5-page play inspiration booklet + printable resources | Part of The Play Library