The holidays are over, but winter has proven a great inspiration for our latest kitchen creation activity!
Making slime is a sensory activity that has led to a lot of independent and creative play for my kids, especially my youngest. It's easy and inexpensive to make and offers fun for hours — a great combination!
This clear slime recipe calls for just three simple ingredients and a little stirring. In no time you'll have a clear slime that is thicker (and more moldable) than most slime made with white glue!
It is really fun to use add-ins with the clear slime to turn it into a 'look and find' activity too! We were going for a "snow and ice" feeling, so we added in silver glitter, foam beads, and gems of light blue and green.
When my kids are done playing with the slime, we store it in an old pickle jar and make hypotheses on whether the items inside will settle, stay in place, or even rise to the top! There are learning opportunities to be had along with the fun!
The steps are simple enough for kids to take the lead on the mixing of ingredients, just be sure to have an adult assist when it comes to the hot water. I usually get the water near boiling in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave, but even hot tap water can be a burn hazard. My 4-year-old loved the process of pouring and stirring the ingredients together all by herself.
By using 1 cup each of clear glue and water and only a small amount of borax activator, we ended up with enough slime to fill a large pickle jar to the top. A large baking dish was the perfect spot for play time too.
The clear finish of this slime is fairly mesmerizing on its own, but it does make for a great base to add other sensory fun too. The best is to just explore and see what sparks creativity in your children.
Clear (Ice) Slime
Ingredients:
- Borax
- Clear glue
- Water
- Bowl, spoon, and container for storage
Directions:
- Mix equal parts of glue and water in a bowl. Stir. (I use 1 cup each.)
- Make your "borax activator" by stirring 1/2 tsp. of borax into 1/2 cup of hot water (this is a good job for the adult)
- Mix the "borax activator" into the glue and start stirring.
- Slime will form almost immediately!
You can leave as-is to play, or add in things like:
- Lavender oil
- Glitter
- Colored beads or gems
- Rock salt
- Confetti
- Food coloring (Warning: Some food colorings may stain hands or surfaces, so try a small amount first before using on all of your slime)
Sara Yaniga is the publisher of Macaroni Kid Chicago (Midtown).
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