Coloring has gotten boring. Painting can get messy. And mixing Play Doh colors is down right aggravating. Looking for something fun and not so messy to do with your preschooler? Homemade slime or silly putty is a fun, no mess activity that will keep your preschooler entertained for minutes on end with it's gooey texture and fun capabilities that Play Doh doesn't possess.
Materials:
- 8 oz bottle of Elmer's school glue
- 1 tsp Borax powdered laundry soap
- large mixing bowl
- 1/2 cup water
- plastic cup
- food coloring
1. Empty entire contents of the glue bottle into the large bowl. Fill glue bottle with warm water, replace cap, and shake to release excess glue. Empty bottle again into bowl and mix well with a spoon.
2. Add a drop of food coloring. A little goes a long way, and you can always add more later.
3. Mix 1/2 cup of warm water and 1 tsp Borax in the plastic cup. The Borax is the key to turning the mixture to slime.
4. Slowly add the borax solution to the glue/water solution while stirring. Once the solution becomes stringy and sticky, use your hands to continue mixing until the ingredients are completely combined. At this point you can also add more food coloring, although it will take longer to fully mix into the slime.
5. Place in ziploc baggie for east storage when not in use, and try to avoid contact with clothing and carpet.
How it works:
The combination of the Borax, glue, and water creates a long chain of molecules in a polymer form. Borax is they key to sticking the glue's molecules together to form the putty substance.
Fun activities to do with homemade silly putty/slime:
- Cut out shapes with cookie cutters or play doh molds.
- Form a ball, place on the table, and watch it slowly melt into a puddle.
- Hang slime over the edge of a chair or table and watch it slowly drip down to the floor.
- Use play dinosaurs or other animals to make tracks in the slime.
- Cut with plastic scissors or plastic knives (the ones that come with Play Doh kits are perfect for this).
- Form into a ball and see if it bounces.
- Make imprints of leaves, toys, or even your face in the putty. Imprints won't stay for long, but it's fun to see what makes a good replication.
Leigh Ann Torres - Leigh Ann Torres is a freelance writer living in Austin, TX. A mother to three children ages three and under, including a set of identical ...
Join the Conversation