articles

DIY Clear Slime, With Just 3 Ingredients

Sensory Fun Your Kids Will Love

By Sara Yaniga, Macaroni Kid Chicago (Midtown) December 3, 2023

The holidays are over, but winter has proven a great inspiration for our latest kitchen creativity activity!

In our house, a sensory activity such as making slime has led to a lot of independent and creative play for our kids, especially our youngest, so it's easy to understand one of the reasons I love to share these ideas with other parents and caregivers.  This one calls for three simple ingredients, a little stirring, and in no time, you have a clear slime that is thicker (and more moldable) than most made with white glue.  It is 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.  Stored in an old pickle jar, we love watching how the items will either settle or rise to the top, based on their weight.  There is a lot of learning to be had in addition to fun with slime.

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 microwave, but even hot tap water can be a burn hazard. Our four-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 playtime too! 

The clear finish of this slime is fairly mesmerizing on its own, but it does make for a great base to add in a color or other add-ins, as mentioned above.  Even a little lavender oil added makes it a full sensory activity!  The best is to explore and see what sparks creativity in your children.




Looking for more Kitchen Creativity like this activity?  

Check out my collection of recipes HERE