Kids enjoy playing with the oozy, gooey, and stretchy toy called slime. Because of its different colors and textures, it fascinates kids to play with it. But what exactly this toy is made from? In this article, you’ll learn how to make slime.
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Benefits of playing slime
According to learningsources.com, there are various learning benefits, this gooey toy can give. First, it increases the ability of your child to pay attention and focus. Their ability to concentrate will be developed as they mix the right combination of ingredients needed to create the gooey toy.
In addition, measuring, pouring, smashing, mixing, and stirring helps develop their fine motor skills. It strengthens the muscles in their hands.
Moreover, this sticky and gooey toy stimulates the senses. It may be relaxing for your kids to play with slime because playing with this toy involves using more senses. It helps your kids engage their sense of touch and sense of sight.
Lastly, helping and guiding your kids while making slime allows you to have a genuine bonding with them. You may unlock their creativity and curiosity as you both enjoy slime-making.
Is slime safe for kids?
According to Healthline, there’s a consumer advocacy group that warns about the potentially hazardous and dangerously high levels of boron used in slime making. Boron is a mineral that is often used in industrial and consumer products such as detergents, fertilizers, and pesticides.
Moreover, boron is known as an irritant that can affect the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. If this mineral is ingested, it can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and may result in stomach aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal distress.
However, Healthline also clarified that the gooey toy may have a potentially harmful mineral, but boron is known as a carcinogen. That means, it isn’t going to be absorbed through the skin when kids play with that toy. And the likeliest kinds of concerns would be skin irritations. Just make sure you supervise your kids when they are playing with that oozy-gooey toy to avoid ingesting it.
Photo by Cotton Bro Studio from Pexels
Homemade or DIY
Using glue, especially Elmer’s wood glue, in making that gooey toy is harmless. And there are also recipes for slime making that don’t need to use glue.
On the other hand, parents should be careful in DIY slime-making procedures that use borax as an ingredient. Borax is a colloquial term for sodium tetraborate.
It is a boron-containing chemical compound. According to Healthline, while borax is generally considered safe, it may also cause skin irritation and gastrointestinal distress just like boron.
Make sure, you supervise your kids in making that toy with borax. If the borax is not diluted properly with water, then it may pose harmful effects on your children. But mommies and daddies, there are slime making recipes that don’t need borax as an ingredient.
Again, slime is considered a non-hazardous toy if used as directed. It should never be eaten or ingested because it may be poisonous. In case of accidental ingestion, call your doctor right away.
How to make a slime
We compiled different ways how to make a slime. There are procedures where glue and borax are not needed. Read more to know more!
How to make slime with glue
Here’s how to make slime with glue according to homesciencetools.com:
All you need is clear glue. You may opt to choose a school glue, white glue, or Elmer’s Glue. In addition, you also need borax, food coloring, water, and two bowls.
How to make slime with glue?
First, mix 1 oz of glue and ¼ cup of water in one bowl. Then add food coloring to the mixture. Next, add ¼ cup of borax to the glue and water mixture, then stir slowly.
Afterward, lift some of the solutions using a stir stick and see how the consistency has changed. Stir as much as you can. Dig in and knead it using your hands until it gets less sticky.
This process is necessary to allow the two compounds to bond fully. Lastly, if you are not going to use the slime, put it in a plastic bag and store it in a fridge to avoid it from growing mold.
Photo by Freepik
How to make slime without glue
There are two different ways how to make a slime without glue. The first is called the Super Slime and the other is called the Oobleck.
How to make slime without glue: Super Slime
This type of slime is clear and gooey. What you need in making this type of that clear and gooey toy is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Borax, a beaker or jar, and food coloring.
First, pour ½ cup of PVA solution into a bowl, beaker, or jar. Add the food coloring to the solution and stir it using a stir stick. Second, add 2 teaspoons of borax into the PVA solution and stir slowly.
After stirring, lift some of the solutions using the stir stick and observe the consistency. Once you get the perfect consistency of the slime, then you may now play with it. Just remember that slime should never be eaten. Lastly, like the slime with glue, it is best to seal your slime in a plastic bag and store it in the fridge to avoid drying out.
How to make slime without glue: Oobleck
This type of gooey-stretchy toy does not need glue and borax. Maybe a safer recipe for your kids. What you need to create an oobleck slime are cornstarch, water, and a big bowl.
First, form a mixture in a mixing bowl by combining 2 cups of cornstarch and 1 cup of water. Make sure it has the consistency of honey and looks like heavy whipping cream. Next, lay your hand gently on the surface of the mixture.
Move your hand slowly through the mixture then gradually increase the speed of your movement. Additionally, try punching the mixture and make sure to hit the substance hard then pull your fist back quickly.
If the substance splattered, you may add more cornstarch to the mixture until you reach the right consistency.
Without Borax
How to make slime without borax
If you are worried about the possible hazardous effects of borax on children, then this recipe is the safest bet you can try. This type of gooey toy is called Glooze slime. What you need to make slime without borax are skim milk, vinegar, baking soda, and a coffee filter.
How to make slime without borax
In a cup, add 7 tablespoons of skim milk and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Stir the mixture until solids have formed. Once the solids have formed, let them sink to the bottom of the mixture. Afterward, drain off the liquid using a coffee filter. Lastly, add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda then knead together to form a slime.
Photo from Freepik
Without activator
How to make slime without activator
Again, if using borax as a slime activator concerns you, you can use other alternatives such as baking soda, or cornstarch.
Here’s how to make slime without activator according to Wiki How.
First, mix ½ cup of shampoo and ¼ cup of cornstarch in a bowl. Using a metal spoon, mix it until the consistency becomes even. For better outcomes, use thick shampoos.
Next, add 3 drops of food coloring into the bowl of mixture and stir it thoroughly to color the mixture. Gradually add 6 tablespoons of water. Make sure to gradually add the water one tablespoon at a time.
Furthermore, knead the gooey-toy dough for at least 5 minutes by closing your hands into fists and pressing your knuckles against the gooey-toy dough.
If you observe that it is too sticky, you may add more cornstarch and then continue to knead it until you reach your desired consistency. And then again, just like what is stated above, to avoid drying out the slime, put it in a sealable plastic bag. Make sure to squeeze out the air and seal it tightly before keeping it in a fridge.