✨ A Mum’s Guide to using shimmers in Potion Play: Bringing Magic Into Everyday Play
Some of my favourite moments with my kids happen at our little indoor potion play setup. No screens, no pressure—just buckets, bowls, spoons, and whatever magical “ingredients” we can find. Lately, our obsession has been potion play, and our shimmer collections from The Saltwater Collective have completely transformed how we play.
What started as simple water play has turned into ocean potions, fairy brews, and bubbling creations filled with colour, texture and imagination.d
It always starts with fizz, water and curiosity
Most days, I’ll set up a simple invitation: a tray of fizz, a bowl of water, a few bowls & scoops, and our shimmer ingredients.
The kids don’t need instructions. They just dive in.
They pour, stir, mix and experiment like little scientists, but it always feels like magic to them. That’s the beauty of potion play. It’s open-ended, messy, creative and completely led by their imagination.
How shimmer changes everything
This is where our shimmer collections really shine (literally).
When we add Sea Salt Shimmer to our fizz and add the water, it suddenly becomes sparkling and ocean-like. It feels like we’re mixing up something from under the sea.
When we use Iridescent Scales, the flakes absorb water and transform into this soft, sludgy texture that the kids are completely fascinated by. They’ll spend ages scooping, squeezing and describing how it feels.
And when we add Mystical Waters, everything changes again—the potions start to shimmer and bubble, and suddenly we’re not just playing… we’re creating “real magic potions.”
Each ingredient adds something different:
- colour
- texture
- movement
- reaction
- surprise
It keeps the play going so much longer because there’s always something new happening.
What I’ve noticed as a mum
Beyond the fun, I’ve noticed how much learning is happening without them even realising it.
They’re:
- Practising fine motor skills as they pour and scoop
- Building language as they describe what they see and feel
- Problem-solving when they experiment with different mixtures
- Fully immersed in imaginative storytelling
But to them, it’s just fun. That’s what I love most.
Our little coastal-inspired world
I grew up on the coast of Australia, so it was only natural that our potions and sensory plays took on a coastal feel. The shimmers remind me of the sunlight bouncing off the waves in the ocean or the still water of the lagoon.
The colours feel like sea foam, sunlight on water, and tidal pools. It’s calming but still exciting. It turns a simple afternoon into something that feels a bit special.
Why shimmer play has become a favourite in our home
Out of all the toys and activities we cycle through, potion play with shimmer ingredients is the one my kids come back to again and again.
It’s simple to set up, but endlessly creative. No two play sessions are ever the same.
And honestly, I love it too, because it slows everything down and lets them lead the play in their own way.
A little invitation for you
If you’ve never tried potion play before, start simple. Fizz, water, a few containers, and something that adds a bit of magic like shimmers.
You might be surprised how quickly ordinary play turns into something completely magical.