make fluffy slime (and get your kids reading these FREE printable slime recipes!)

Oh, friends.

If I had a dime for every time my kids talked about slime, I’d be a rich woman.

Fluffy slime. Floam slime. Glitter slime. Galaxy slime. Butter slime. Iceburg slime. Clear slime.

Not. Even. Kidding.

You name the slime, my kids have made it.

Though we may be in the midst of a slime craze right now, little did my kids realize that we made slime way before it was even cool.  That’s how much of a trend-setter their mom is. Cooler than cool and they don’t even realize it.

Anyway, since Maddy and Cora especially are all slime-o-rama crazed, I thought I’d share a few of my kids’ favorite slime recipes.

Though my kids know how to make this slime with their eyes closed, the cool thing about these easy slime recipes is that they’ll get your kids reading, following directions, and learning a bit without watching a video. (Unless, of course, you want them to watch the video we made, which you can do after they make it!)

So without further ado, my friend, here is how we make slime–fluffy slime.

Make Slime (And Get Your Kids Reading):

I have to be totally honest when I say that I am not the hugest fan of slime. Maybe I once was–but now that my kids are non-stop popping, snapping, and crackling slime, I’m kind of over it.

But I would be lying if I didn’t say that I think the science behind the slime is pretty darn cool. (I’ll get to that later.)

In order to make your fluffy slime, you’ll need:

• 4 oz (½ cup) of Elmer’s white school glue (or go for a 12-pack of glue if you have a group making slime)
• ½ Tablespoon of baking soda
• 2-3 cups of shaving cream, separated (we use the original Barbasol brand)
• liquid food coloring
• 1+ Tablespoon of contact lens solution

Directions:

1.    Gather your supplies.

2.    Add glue, baking soda, and about a cup of shaving cream to bowl. Mix well.

3.    Add food coloring and/or glitter.

4.    Add contact solution, a little bit at a time, to glue mixture to reach desired texture.

5.    Mix with hands. Slime is made!

Do not be afraid to get those hands dirty!

Helpful hints: 

• If slime is too sticky, add a bit of baking soda and a bit more contact solution.
• If you want the slime fluffier, add more shaving cream!

How to make floam:

• Add foam balls to a bowl.
• Drop your fluffy slime in the bowl and cover it in foam balls.
• Knead slime to incorporate foam balls. Now you have FLOAM!

Check out our quickie video on making floam slime:

How to make glitter slime: 

• Add glitter to a bowl.
• Drop your slime in bowl and cover with glitter!
• Glitter may make the slime a little more stiff; add contact solution and baking soda to make it more manageable.

Make galaxy slime:

• Instead of using white school glue, use Elmer’s clear glue.
• Instead of using baking soda, use Borax dissolved in water.
• Check out our homemade sparkle slime that is totally galactic.

More helpful hints:

Don’t have contact solution? Use Borax-diluted water. Dissolve 1-2 Tablespoons of Borax into a cup of warm water. Use it the same way you used the contact solution and baking soda.

These substances help make the glue not so sticky, but you have to be careful not to add too much of each, or the slime will become way too stiff to move!

Now, you want to get your kids reading, right?

Then definitely print out the recipe for slime so that your kids are the ones reading–and following directions–while you observe from the sidelines. That way you get to keep your hands clean, too!

Throw your email address in the box below and your recipes will land in your inbox in no time:

A few more things to remember: 

Don’t judge slime by its cover. Sometimes, the really ugly slime is the easiest and most fun to work with. Check out the slime below–it’s super ugly, but it’s one of Maddy’s faves!

If at first you don’t succeed, try making slime again and again and again.

Slime is strange, my friend. It really is. It can seem like it’s working, and then it can fall flat in a heartbeat. It’s all good. Repeat after me: it’s all good.

Dump the slime flop in the trash and start again. Really.

We have flopped many, many times.

In fact, here are a few of our flops: 

Looks pretty, right? It’s hard as a rock.

And this one?

Maddy worked her tail off to make a dreamy ‘Butter Slime’ which involved mixing Crayola Model Magic with homemade slime.  It’s supposed to be AWE-SOME.

But for some reason, ours turned out totally wrong. And completely solid.

Pretty little purple rock slime.

Boy, Maddy was hot.

But it’s a great time to remind kids that in life, sometimes you have to be flexible. You can try adding a little more this or a pinch of that in order to make it work, but sometimes, no matter what you do, you just have to throw it all out the window and start fresh.

And? That’s it for today’s life lessons over a little bit o’ slime.

If you have a recipe that works for you, I’d love to hear it! Please share in the comments!

Check out a few other posts that may help you develop strong and healthy habits for your family:

• wait time
• my day, your day
• frozen peas
• kids who rock the kitchen
• kids who rock the laundry
• rest time
• gem jars
• arm circles
• noticing kids
• homework routine

fyi: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Forever and always I recommend only products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  For more information, please see teachmama media, llc. disclosure policy.