How to Make Homemade Slime
You and your child can transform a few ingredients into an ooey-gooey creation – called gak, flubber, gluep, glurch or slime — with this sensory craft. Let loose like the agents of Odd Squad did when they had to track down a one gallon blob escaped inside their headquarters. Your child can make their own slimy creation and explore measuring liquids following this recipe. Then, try molding it into different shapes before tracking down the perfect fitting container to store it in! |
Materials to Make Slime
If you're looking for a slime recipe without Borax, try one of these options that use ingredients you might already have at home instead!
- Make slime with glue and liquid starch
- Make edible slime with tapioca flour or starch
- Make slime with cornstarch
For more sensory play activities, including additional slime recipes, click here.
Directions
Have your child squeeze about ½ cup (4 ounces) of glue into a glass bowl.
Mix in ½ cup (or 4 ounces) of warm water.
Your child can add a few drops of food coloring, if they want.
Mix 1 teaspoon of Borax into ½ cup of water in a plastic container. Slowly add the solution to the glue mixture.
Stir the mixture in one direction until it starts to thicken. (You might not need all of the Borax solution.)
Have your child knead the slime. At first, it will be really wet and gooey, then stringy and sloppy, until it finally holds together. Ask your child, “What does the slime feel like?” “How is it changing as you continue to work with it?”
Let your child keep kneading until they have an easy to hold and play with blob.
For storing, put the slime in a plastic bag with a zip top or a sealable container. It will last 2 weeks before it needs to be thrown away.
Explore Further
Your child can just push, pull or squeeze the slime. You can also try these options to extend your play:
Try making shapes or objects with it — like a semi-circle or sphere.
Cut the slime with scissors. (Cookie cutters won't work.)
This craft was originally written by Rachelle Doorley. Doorley is an artist and mother of two. She publishes the popular children's creativity blog, Tinkerlab.com. She holds a master’s degree in arts education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and lectures on visual literacy at Stanford and the San Jose Museum of Art. Find play dough tool ideas on Tinkerlab.
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