If you’ve been wondering how to make slime for kids, you’ve probably come across recipes for home-made slime using borax as a key ingredient. Borax isn’t the safest ingredient—it can be toxic if not properly diluted. In March of 2017 an eleven-year-old girl suffered second and third-degree burns on her hands while using Borax to make slime.
Does this mean you can’t make slime for kids? Thankfully not. There are plenty of Borax-free slime recipes available. We’ve got two safe alternative instructions for how to make slime for kids right here:
Glittery Saline Slime
This quick recipe uses contact lens saline solution to form the slime instead of Borax. Be warned—this recipe makes plenty of slime. If you don’t want the full amount, cut the recipe down to a third of the ingredients. You’ll need:
- 12 ounces Elmer’s white glue
- 1 ½ tablespoons baking soda
- 2 tablespoons contact lens saline solution
- Large dishpan
- Washable glitter paint
- Poly beads (optional)
- Extra glitter (optional).
Pour all the Elmer’s glue into the dishpan or other large container, add the baking soda and mix well. Add drops of the washable glitter paint and continue to mix. If you like, add more glitter at this point. If you want to add a fun tactile sensation, you can add poly beads at this stage.
When you’ve got your slime the color you want, add the two tablespoons of contact lens solution and mix into the slime until the gooey mixture begins to hold together. The less saline solution you add, the more flexible the slime will be. If your slime feels a little too sticky, add a little more baking soda. You can store slime for kids in plastic containers, but it’s at its best when played with immediately after making. Discard slime that starts to smell or changes color—kids should wash their hands thoroughly before and after playing with slime.
How to Make Quick Kids’ Slime
For quick batches of slime you only need three ingredients: cornstarch, waters, and food coloring. Because this recipe is made with cornstarch it won’t last as long as glue-based slime, but will keep in the fridge for a few days without going bad.
Mix two parts cornstarch to one-part water colored with one or two drops of food coloring to start, then add more water until your slime is the consistency you want. Only use a drop or two of food coloring in the water or you’ll have to explain to other adults why your hands are such a funny color. Blue food coloring is especially difficult to wash off skin. Consider yourself warned, and have fun!
