A great activity for kids, homemade slime offers many benefits. It is an excellent tactile activity, providing kids with lots of stimulation. It also teaches kids the basics of following recipes, experimenting with textures, focusing on a single task (also good for mindfulness), promoting fine motor skills, and encouraging independent play.
There are many different recipes for homemade slime out there but not all are safe for kids. Be careful of slime recipes that contain potentially harmful ingredients such as Borax. Instead, go for kid-friendly recipes that can be enjoyed by all little ones of nine months and above.
Simple, Safe Ways to Make Homemade Slime
Some of the simplest, safest recipes for homemade slime that we have found include the following:
Basic slime
Basic slime is easy to make, using ingredients you probably already have on hand. To make this slime, mix ¼ cup baking soda into a bowl with 2 cups of warm water and set aside. In another bowl, mix 150ml clear glue along with a few drops of food colouring of any colour. You can also add glitter, hundreds and thousands or other things to add different textures to the slime. Pour the colourful glue mixture into the bowl of baking soda and water and wait until slime begins to form small balls within the water. Remove these balls and voila – your slime is ready.
Super safe slime
For a completely non-toxic slime that is stretchy, gooey and easy to make, this slime is the way to go. This recipe requires just one main ingredient – psyllium husk. You can buy this at your local health store or in the health aisle of your local supermarket. Add 1 large tablespoon psyllium husk, 1 cup of water and a few drops of food colouring to a large microwave-safe bowl, stir well and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Let it cool to room temperature, stirring every now and then until the mixture is cool enough for play.
Although these recipes to do not contain harmful chemicals, it is always best to supervise your kids during slime play. Older kids can get more hands-on by making the slime themselves while smaller kids can watch as you make the slime.
Looking for other fun play ideas for kids? Follow the Clamber Club blog to find other activities besides homemade slime.