I've collected 5 of my absolute favourite DIY slime recipes in this post for you to try – these are the ones I have used over many years with my own children and also while working with babies and toddlers in both early learning centre and Family Day Care environments. They only require a few basic ingredients and the children can usually join in the process of making the slime as well. Collect flowers together and use the slime pushed into recycled lids as a base to create florist arrangements. Add a bowl of plastic syringes or eyedroppers for older children to practice drawing up the slime then squirting it out. Some of the slime recipes contain all of these elements, some only 1 or 2…but they are all lots of fun for exploring with the senses, investigating and experimenting through play. 1. Soapy Slippery Slime Simply spread out on a table and invite those little fingers to get busy squelching, pouring, fingerpainting, cooking, drawing patterns and so much more.

For babies add balls of the slime to a tray placed on the ground so they can reach, grasp and squish. Adding to a fruit net bag and tying the end is also lots of sensory fun as the slime squirts through the holes as they grasp and release. The slimy, gooey texture is fantastic for fingerpainting and mark making – especially if used on a table or tray surface. I love that it doesn't stain, is non toxic and you don't need much powder so it's pretty inexpensive! Cut up different sized and coloured kitchen sponges and scourers and encourage children to squish, create patterns and paint with the slime. If you have children who don't like messy hands just clip a peg to the sponges so they aren't touching the slime yet.Leave on the bench to soak in the water overnight. The balls absorb the water, become nearly translucent and swell (so make sure you use a large bowl!) Sprinkle the powder across top of water and whisk or stir for around 2 minutes (the kids love doing this part so hand out those whisks!) The ingredients above make the amount of slime you see in the red slime picture below . I made a few extra batches after the first trial run. I’d caution against trying to double the recipe as even this small amount easily bubbles over the bowl when making it in the microwave – worth taking a little extra time to make batches separately. For younger children and babies you can help do this step with them of course and I usually make it a little firmer rather than too slippery so they can grasp and manipulate easier. Cup WaterFood colouring or edicol colour dyes {Optional} I used edicol dye because I use them to colour my DIY cornflour paint base as well and they wash out of clothes so easily!

You really don't need precise measurements for this one – I don't think I have ever measured the powder out, it's all about trial and error and how much you want to make. But you can start with these measurements and modify from there for a large tub. Because it is a soap base it washes off easily when time to clean up and will keep in a covered container for quite a while if you keep it relatively free of other matter! Edicol dyes wash out of clothes easily so I use them a lot with messy play activities. Collect all the bikes and cars to setup a large carwash station using the foamy slime and big sponges to wash. Hose everyone off afterwards – lots of fun on a hot day. I know that many educators and parents worry about exposing babies and young toddlers to messy sensory materials but there are lots of simple and safe ways to begin introducing a sensory experience like slime and it certainly doesn't need to take a long time to make or setup! You also don't need to worry about using those ingredients like glue, starch and borax which I do not recommend using around younger children – especially under 12 months when they are still tasting everything! For a firmer, blubbery type slime – Microwave for suggested time and add a little more powder to the recipe if you need to after you try your first batch.Add scissors for 3 years up and watch as they try to cut through the stretchy slime to make smaller pieces. Provide blunt butter knives as another way to strengthen and explore cutting skills. Tip onto a tray or into a few bowls and let the messy fun begin! You might also like to try some of the ideas below. Carefully pour onto a tray or board to cool down. Mine seemed to firm up a little as well after resting . It will be very hot so please be careful transferring from bowl.

Older children will enjoy the processes of measuring, mixing, pouring, whisking and kneading and you can go into greater detail about the scientific processes taking place. If you are making slime with a multi age group the babies and toddlers will often watch how the older children are playing and then try to replicate or explore in their own way. I created this slime recipe after using the sago as a safe sensory alternative to water beads with younger children (Water beads are quite the choking hazard!) With the addition of a little cellmix it turned into a wonderful bumpy, mouldable slime.Add balls of different sizes to the slime tray or tub for rolling and making patterns with. Add spoons to turn into a scooping game.

I get asked this a lot – along with many of the other sensory activities I share and my answer is always the same NO! As long as you use safe/edible materials and supervise (as you always should with this age anyway!)Don't leave babies and toddlers out of the fun and learning opportunities just because they require closer supervision around this type of play! To say that I’m a little late to the DIY Slime party is quite the understatement. But here it is: my recipe for DIY Slime with Bubble Bath! It is a wonderful sensory experience and I dare you not to want to put your own hands in there too – a lovely stress buster for anxious children (or stressed educators!) It also smells beautiful. Because it is soap based do watch the possibility of getting in the eyes. Speaking from my own experiences using this over the years I have never had a child complain about it hurting their eyes but I know some may find it stings like any soap in the eye can. 2. Squishy Foamy Slime PLEASE NOTE : Although I define these recipes as safe for use around young children there is always still a need for common sense and close supervision when offering these type of experiences to younger children – some are obviously better suited to toddlers who aren't at the mouthing stage but you know the developmental stages and capacities of your children the best so please modify according to individual needs.This safe slime recipe is made using simple ingredients. The only “non-natural” ingredient in this tutorial is the bubble bath, but you can customize and choose whatever brand you like. Pour into a few different trays placed on the grass and help older babies and toddlers walk through the slime or go stomping in slimy puddles! Add dolls and dolly clothes along with a tub of water and use the soap slime to shampoo dolly's hair and wash clothes. Make sure to rinse and provide pegs and a low line so they can hang up their washing to dry. Provide a basket of baby safe loose parts for them to use and investigate with the slime ( see this post for loose part ideas)