HK is reminding me of all the fun chemistry we did as children (but then, one of my parents also has a PhD in chemistry, and thus also views it all as play!): marshmallow/gum drop & toothpick molecular models (the self-referential nature of models of sucrose was endlessly amusing), innumerable variations of acid-base reactions using household products/kitchen ingredients, combustion of various materials, electrolysis of water, etc.
We had a well-used book, an earlier edition of
https://www.amazon.com/Science-Experiments-You-Can-Eat/dp/0064460029, which was quite entertaining.
