Seeing crystals appear can be interesting and fun for your child. Here’s how you can do it together:

  1. Mix two tablespoons of Epsom salts in a bowl with one quarter cup of water.

  2. Have your child dip a paintbrush in the bowl. Make sure the entire brush (but not the handle) is wet.

  3. Have him use the brush to paint a simple picture on dark construction paper. Make sure the brush stays wet.

  4. Let dry. In an hour, he will see the “crystal picture” he has painted.

  5. Look at the crystals under a magnifying glass. Ask your child to describe them to you. Do they have colors? Have they formed any shapes your child can recognize? Do they look more like salt or like tiny pieces of ice?

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