No doubt slime is a fun, easy-to-make substance that all kids love to play with. But did you know that when your child makes slime they are actually doing science? Wow, who knew that making a simple slime recipe would turn your child into a mad scientist.
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There are lots of different recipes for slime but no matter what kind of slime your child makes, glitter slime, fluffy slime, or even unicorn slime they are all real chemistry experiments. This non-Newtonian goop is just glue (a polymer) + an activator like borax, liquid starch, laundry detergent, or even contact solution + water all mixed together.
Slime Science
Recipes for slime vary however the same chemical process still occurs. Polymers are materials made of long repeating chains of molecules. An activator like borax, when dissolved in water creates borate ions and these ions then help link the polymer molecules from the glue resulting in the polymer molecules not being able to move as easily making it a thicker substance which we call slime. Whew, did you make it through that condensed chemistry lesson? If not that is ok - you can still make a great batch of slime. If you have a curious kid who loves chemistry check out ThoughtCo.com for the real "brainy" science behind the slime.
Slime Do's & Dont's
As a parent, the most important lesson to remember is NEVER put slime down the sink or any drain. It will end in a disaster (I may or may not be speaking from experience here). The slime will clog your pipes! I recommend using a disposable bowl to mix your slime ingredients into so you can just toss the bowl out in the trash when you are done.
Today I am going to show you how to make slime with liquid starch as the activator. The recipe is simple and easy to follow using products you probably already have on hand at home.
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Easy Homemade Slime Recipe
- 1/3 cup school glue (Elmer's glue works great)
- 1/2 cup shaving cream
- 1/4 cup water
- 2-3 drops liquid food coloring (optional)
- 1-3 teaspoons liquid starch
Mix together the first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Add one teaspoon of liquid starch and stir for several minutes. If the slime is very runny add an additional 1 to 2 more teaspoons of liquid starch and continue to stir vigorously. Once the mixture becomes thicker your slime is ready to be handled and played with. It will be very sticky however it should become less sticky as you play with it.
How To Make Slime Video
My daughter published a video on her YouTube channel, RianJane you can watch to see how she made a batch of slime from this recipe.
Storing Slime
Be sure to store your slime in an air-tight container and be sure to never put your slime directly on furniture, clothing, or other fabric items. If left on a wood surface for too long you might see a watermark stain from the slime too.
Making slime is the perfect rainy day activity for kids! Add some beads, glitter, styrofoam balls, or other textured items to your slime to amp up the sensory fun.
What activator do you like using when making slime? Have you tried other slime recipes? I'd love to hear all about your slime adventures in the comments.
More Fun Activities
Looking for more fun activities to do with your kids? Here are some I think they will enjoy:
Awesome Magic Paper Towel Trick
Dala Horse Papercraft For Kids
Little Hoot Owl Craft For Kids
How To Make An Easy & Simple Bird Feeder
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