Fun with pantry items: oil, food coloring and water.

My 2.5yr old enjoyed this a whole lot. First of, get your child as close as possible to naked, it will speed up the cleaning process :P

I got clear plastic cups, food coloring, oil, water, droppers (found mine at at Pharmacy at my local supermarket) and any other instruments that might be fun: a spoon, a funnel,  glitters, sequins, oatmeal, whatever you'd like to experiment dropping in there.

To add a light element, I also used a flat clear tupperware with a tap on light (bought some at the $ store, some at walmart, they are 4 for $2.97 I think)
Also, keep an empty water/soda bottle handy to save it all in afterwards.

This is great on so many levels, it helps with fine motor skills, about mixing colors, about science and it is plain fun and mezmerizing to stare at :)

When you are all done, bottle it, close it REALLY tight (hot/super glue the top if you think your child might be able to open it) that way you avoid a mess. You could have your child (or as a later project) ass glitters in there, small objects and talk about gravity and how some little items float and some don't)