In a previous post we discussed why we love sensory play and slime is a fantastic and fun option for sensory play! The unique texture and feel of slime can be very engaging for children of all ages, and you’ll be pleased with how much they will enjoy playing with it.

Although slime is not every parent’s favorite thing to make at home because it sounds messy we hope to convince you otherwise! Slime sensory play is an engaging and a safe indoor activity for kids of various ages. 

DIY SLIME RECIPE

Slime is a simple ‘toy’ made of a viscous, squishy and oozy material. It can provide hours of fun, act as a stress reliever and be used as a platform to learn and engage with your children. It’s texture, viscosity and consistency make it a fantastic calming tool, even for adults. Children enjoy squishing it or stretching it between their fingers. 

Slime can be almost any solid color you want or even a ghostly white semi-transparent!  Although you can buy pre-manufactured slime, it is even more fun to make it at home and experiment with various colors and textures.

THE BENEFITS & HOW TO USE IT

Making slime together with your children or students is one great way to bond with them while having fun. Older kids will love testing just how far they can stretch the slime, while toddlers will be fascinated by its texture and feel. 

For older children, you can treat it like a science experiment and incorporate learning about the different slime ingredients that make this recipe effective, and learn about its non-newtonian fluid form. You can also try our other slime recipes and discuss their differences in look and feel. Check out the mess-less slime, cloud slime, clear slime, taste safe slime, and goop for more slime-fun! 

With toddlers you can use this DIY slime activity as a way to practice naming colors and words like sticky, stretchy, slimy, wet, cool, squishy, gooey, and rubbery. Similarly to playdough, slime can also help develop fine motor skills and strengthen your child’s hands in preparation for bigger skills like writing and cutting with scissors. 

If you enjoy sensory play with your littles and want more ideas on how to incorporate these in your classroom or at home, check out the Mothercould In Your Pocket Resource, where we have curated video tutorials, printable recipes, cleaning hacks and so much more- all inside one place with easy access!  

So let’s get to it! 

THE FACTS

If you browse the internet for homemade slime recipes you will find so many different kinds of recipes with quite a few variations for texture and names, but the one that I want to share with you here is JELLY-SLIME. It’s a favorite, and here is why!

The texture of our homemade jelly-slime recipe reminds me of crushed up water beads, it’s so satisfying it actually feels like jelly. Once you try it with your family or in your classroom, let me know what you think!

The ingredient list for this recipe might look a little different than the homemade slime recipes you’re used to seeing. Different ingredients make different kinds of slime. For example, the typical fluffy slime recipe calls for 1/2 cup white glue or several cups of shaving cream, 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda, and other ingredients like liquid starch to make this popular slime with borax.

The ingredient list for this EPIC jelly slime is pretty simple. It includes clear glue, baby oil, instant snow, baking soda and contact lens solution - find the full recipe below. 

THE CLEAN UP 

Now, I know that any parent reading the words slime, sticky, rubbery and stretchy naturally worries about clean-up so let’s just get those doubts out of the way. We have a little secret for this slime clean-up that is so easy, and that is VINEGAR. Vinegar is the best slime antidote that will remove slime from any furniture or clothes. It will literally melt the slime away like it never even was there. 

Okay, let’s get to making some slime!

Homemade DIY Jelly-Slime Recipe

Watch my simple tutorial for Jelly Slime below, and find the full recipe right under it! 

What you will need: 

• 6oz clear glue

• Food coloring

• 1/2 tsp baby oil

• 1/2 tsp instant snow (you can add more for extra texture)

• 1/4 tsp baking soda

• 1 tbsp saline solution, a.k.a. contact lens solution (make sure boric acid is listed in the ingredients)

How To Make JELLY SLIME:

• Add food coloring, glue, baby oil, instant snow and baking soda to a bowl and mix well. Let it sit for about 5 minutes so that the instant snow grows.

• Add the lens solution and mix until the slime sticks off of the bowl. Please note it will still be very sticky. Continue to mix and it will get better.

• Add some lens solution to your hands and play with the slime until it is no longer sticky.

Homemade Jelly Slime Tips:

Try to avoid adding more lens solution because it will make it rubbery. Only add more after a while of trying to get it perfect. If it gets too watery it's probably because of the snow particles. Try adjusting with a bit more glue. Add it little by little to reach the desired consistency. Achieving the perfect texture and consistency is part of the fun! 

If you have sensitive skin, you might want to wear gloves while making and playing with homemade slime,

Jelly Slime Storage:

For better storage, store it in an airtight container.

Did we convince you to give slime another try?

For this and many other sensory play recipes and ideas, check out https://www.mothercould.com/mothercould-in-your-pocket, where we encourage learning through play with fun, easy, and accessible play recipes using common household items so you can incorporate sensory play at home, on-the-go, and in the classroom.

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