You are constantly telling your child not to pick their nose. But who can resist rolling something sticky, wet, and squishy between their fingers? I’ve got a solution that will satisfy both kids and parents.

Slime

It’s an incredible sensory experience for the kids as they dig in and get gooey, but it doesn’t leave a big mess behind for you to clean up. The sensation of slime being squeezed between fingers and toes, of stretching, pulling, and rolling the slime between palms can be very relaxing for a child. (And an adult, too!)

Below I have included the gooiest, slimiest, most tried and true recipes from across the internet. You can experiment to come up with your own creations, too!

You tell your child not to pick their nose. But who can resist rolling something wet and squishy between their fingers? I've got a solution: make SLIME.

Standard GAK from The Science Kiddo
This 4-ingredient recipe is quick and easy to make.

Bat Slime from Little Bins for Little Hands
Slime with a Halloween twist! You could vary this according to the season or holiday so you have a festive slime all year round.

Glow in the Dark Slime from Left Brain Craft Brain
Who doesn’t love stuff that glows in the dark? Make the dough and then read the science behind what makes something glow in the dark here.

You tell your child not to pick their nose. But who can resist rolling something wet and squishy between their fingers? I've got a solution: make SLIME.

Lego Slime from Lemon Lime Adventures
Add some Lego pieces and you’ve got yourself a real party!

Galaxy Slime from Twodaloo
This is the most gorgeous slime out there! Plus it makes some pretty awesome gigantic bubbles!

Edible Slime from Fun at Home With Kids
Do you have a baby or toddler that wants to join in the fun? Make this edible edition and you don’t have to worry about what happens if your little one taste tests your slime!

Bubbling Slime from Epic Fun for Kids
Apparently it bubbles for a solid 24 hours!

You tell your child not to pick their nose. But who can resist rolling something wet and squishy between their fingers? I

Edible Kool-aid Slime from Growing a Jeweled Rose
This slime smells as good as it is pretty.

Heat Sensitive Color Changing Slime from Left Brain Craft Brain
One of our personal favorites, this slime literally changes in the heat and cold!

One Ingredient Edible Slime from Kids Play Box
Easy-peasy one-ingredient nontoxic slime that everyone can enjoy.

*If your slime doesn’t come out exactly as expected head over to this trouble-shooting guide. Asia at Fun at Home with Kids is the slime goddess 🙂 And yes, that’s a HUGE compliment!

Slime Science

Making slime can be educational, too! When you mix the ingredients together you are making a polymer. You can think of a polymer like a chain or a ladder. It is made of lots of little chemical pieces (called monomers) that hook together to make a long, strong strand. Many synthetic materials are polymers such as plastic, nylon, and styrofoam. Polymers exist in nature, too, in the forms of DNA and proteins.

You tell your child not to pick their nose. But who can resist rolling something wet and squishy between their fingers? I

STEM Saturday

Hands-On Learning About Fossils from Stir the Wonder
Science Activities Around the House from Little Bins for Little Hands