My son really wanted to make his own valentines this year and after a couple different ideas settled on passing out slime! Making slime is really fun, super easy, and (surprisingly) not messy.
How to Make Slime:
(Click here for the Borax-free recipe)
-
Pour 8oz of Elmer’s glue into a glass bowl.
- Add in 8oz of warm water. (You can just fill up the empty glue bottle to save on dishes!)
- Add whatever color food coloring you choose.
- Stir the mixture.
- Put 1 teaspoon of Borax (a laundry product) into a small cup.
- Fill the cup up most of the way with water. I just eyeball it. I’m guessing 2/3 of a cup of water.
- Slowly add the Borax water to the glue bowl. Keep stirring.
- Knead the slime until it’s absorbed the water.
Since you’ll be working with Borax the actually making of the slime should be done by a grown-up. As you begin to add the Borax solution the glue starts to become rubbery and super cool. The two products actually react together and become polymers so making slime also doubles as a science demonstration!
Once we were done making (and playing with) the slime we divided it up into snack sized bags. One batch of the recipe above made enough for 12 bags. I typed up Happy Valen-slime’s Day! bag toppers and stapled them to the top of the bags. You can print out the free printable Valenslime bag toppers by clicking on the link below.
Valenslime Free Valentine’s Day Printable
Slime is such a great sensory experience for kids–definitely something worth trying! Especially since there are so many learning activities involved. While preschoolers may not remember the term polymer they are exploring their world and building the vital background knowledge that will help them succeed in school. Plus, it really is just plain cool to play with!
Erica @What Do We Do All Day? says
February 14, 2013 at 10:00 amThis is the most original Valentine idea I’ve seen all month!
Megan Sheakoski says
February 14, 2013 at 7:48 pmMy kids get all the credit for the idea, but I totally thought of valen-slime! Super cool and crazy easy…I see many more valen-slime cards in our future! Thanks Erica!
Dianne says
January 26, 2014 at 4:55 pmVery cool! But, I can’t get the toppers for the bags. When I click on them it just takes me back to the same page.
Megan Sheakoski says
January 26, 2014 at 8:06 pmAaaah! I have no idea why it wasn’t working! It should be fixed now. If you still can’t get it let me know and I can email it to you. 🙂
jane says
January 26, 2014 at 1:54 pmHow do you store it? And how long does it keep? Thanks for the great idea! Definitely going to try it!!
Megan Sheakoski says
January 26, 2014 at 8:05 pmWe stored it in a plastic bag. It should be good for a month or two but I’ve only ever kept it a couple weeks. 🙂
jane says
January 27, 2014 at 1:31 amIn the fridge?
Megan Sheakoski says
January 27, 2014 at 2:37 pmNope. It’s fine just in the ziploc bags!
crystalandcomp says
January 26, 2014 at 4:08 pmI am in love with the Megan. I’m totally sharing it on Facebook.
Megan Sheakoski says
January 26, 2014 at 8:06 pmThanks Crystal!
Stephanie says
January 27, 2014 at 5:24 amSuper cool idea, how do you dispose of it though? Is it reusable or do you need to get rid of it once used? Thanks 🙂
Megan Sheakoski says
January 27, 2014 at 2:37 pmWe kept ours in the ziploc bags for weeks and it was fine!
Ariadne says
January 27, 2014 at 11:52 amThat looks fun to play with and very creative idea as a valentines card!!
Megan Sheakoski says
January 27, 2014 at 2:36 pmThey loved it! Thanks Ariadne!
Amy says
January 27, 2014 at 2:33 pmGreat idea, but in a couple of pictures…..the word placenta keeps coming to mind! Gonna have to use a different color for mine.
Megan Sheakoski says
January 27, 2014 at 2:35 pmLOL! We made some pink ones too using less food coloring that may look better for you!
Kathy Lobb says
January 28, 2014 at 3:32 pmThese are wonderful ideas for daycares…thanks so much for the idea!
JDaniel4's Mom says
January 28, 2014 at 5:00 pmWhat an awesome class gift! I just love it.
Megan Sheakoski says
January 29, 2014 at 10:28 amThanks Deirdre!