In one of my weekly e-mails from BabyCenter they included the following activity for fun. It's like a mock-up lava lamp.
Bubble Bottle by Babycenter.com
Remember the hypnotic effect of watching a lava lamp? Here's a toy that will have the same impact with your baby, and you can make it yourself for pennies. It's sure to become a favorite around the house.
Appropriate for: 6 months and up
Skills developed: Dexterity, familiarity with colors
What you'll need: A clear plastic bottle with a tightly fitting screw-on lid; food coloring; vegetable oil, water, an Alka-Seltzer tablet
Fill a large, clear plastic bottle, such as a soda pop or water bottle, three-quarters full of vegetable oil. (It's helpful to have a funnel for this step, though not necessary.) Fill the rest of the bottle almost to the top with water. Add ten to 12 drops of food coloring. Then break the Alka-Seltzer into small pieces and drop one into the bottle. Put the cap on and watch it start bubbling! When it stops, you can add more Alka-Seltzer to start the bubbling all over again.
Skills developed: Dexterity, familiarity with colors
What you'll need: A clear plastic bottle with a tightly fitting screw-on lid; food coloring; vegetable oil, water, an Alka-Seltzer tablet
Fill a large, clear plastic bottle, such as a soda pop or water bottle, three-quarters full of vegetable oil. (It's helpful to have a funnel for this step, though not necessary.) Fill the rest of the bottle almost to the top with water. Add ten to 12 drops of food coloring. Then break the Alka-Seltzer into small pieces and drop one into the bottle. Put the cap on and watch it start bubbling! When it stops, you can add more Alka-Seltzer to start the bubbling all over again.
Remember: Each baby develops at a different pace, so if yours isn't quite ready for this week's activities, don't worry — just try them again in a few weeks.