Easy Goop Recipes for Kids

When spring showers hit, simple hands-on projects are a great way to entertain the kids indoors. My family loves these goopy concoctions. We have created them together, with friends, and with scout troops, too. The results are always amazing and the finished product is something that kids can play with for months.

Scented Homemade Play Dough

This is a classic recipe for dough that kids can sculpt, roll out, and squish, then smush it into a ball and start all over again.

You will need:

• 1 cup white flour
• ½ cup salt
• 2 tablespoons cream of tartar (found in spice aisle)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon scented oil (optional)
• Food coloring

Safety Note: Many scented or essential oils are not safe for ingestion. For toddlers who love to taste everything, omit the scented oil.

Instructions:

1. Mix flour, salt, and cream of tartar together.
2. Mix water and oil in a pot. Add flour mixture and stir.
3. Heat over medium heat and stir constantly. Add 1 teaspoon of scented oil during heating.
4. When dough starts to form a ball, take off the burner and cool. Separate the dough if you would like to make multiple colors. Add food coloring and knead coloring into dough.
5. Store in zip top bags.

Slippery Slime

Our youngest daughter has made oodles of slime and tested many versions. This one is her slimiest favorite.

You will need:

• ½ cup white glue
• Food coloring
• 3 cups foaming shaving cream
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon saline solution
• ½ teaspoon baby oil

Instructions:

1. Pour white glue into a medium-size bowl.
2. Squeeze a few drops of food coloring in and stir.
3. Add shaving cream and stir.
4. Add baking soda and stir.
5. Add saline solution and mix completely, using your hands.
6. Add the baby oil to make it slimy and less sticky.

Sparkle Slime

This recipe is a favorite around my house. It has a totally different consistency from other slime recipes and its glassy look sparkles in the sunshine or a bright room.

You will need:

• ½ cup clear glue
• 1 cup warm water (divided)
• Sequins (or glitter)
• ½ teaspoon Borax

Instructions:

1. Mix the glue and ½ cup water in a bowl.
2. Add sequins or glitter.
3. Mix Borax into the other ½ cup of water and stir. Add the Borax mixture to the glue mixture and stir, stir, stir. Drain any excess water that does not absorb into mixture.
4. Knead the mixture and play with it. The more you play with it, the smoother it will become.
5. Store in an airtight container.

Cloud Sand

This soft, smooth concoction is moldable like sand. It works well with cutters, scoops, and sand tools.

You will need:

• white flour
• baby oil

Instructions:

• Mix the parts with the ratio of 1:7 or one part baby oil to 7 parts flour (for example, ½ cup baby oil to 3½ cups flour). While kneading and playing with the dough, kids will be having a great time and relieving stress. Store in an airtight container.