My kids love anything sticky, slimy, or gooey so today I offered them two choices, Gak (AKA Flubber) or Goop. After much debate the older ones decided on Gak because it was “more bouncy” and they didn’t have to share one container. The goop (cornstarch and water mix) is gooey and messy but we only make one big batch in a large (shallow) rubbermaid container so they don’t get their own individual chunks like they do with Gak (or playdough). So I broke out the Gak recipe and the kids helped make it!
The ingredients:
-Elmers Glue (full 8 oz bottle)
-Borax
-Large mixing bowl
-Cup (small/regular cups are fine)
-Food coloring
-Water
Directions:
-Empty the entire 8oz bottle of glue into a mixing bowl. Fill the empty bottle with warm water and shake, then pour the glue-water mixture into the mixing bowl and use the spoon to mix well
-Add food coloring
-Measure 1/2 cup of warm water into the cup and add a teaspoon of Borax powder to the water. Stir the solution until mostly dissolved (doesn’t have to be completely dissolved)
-While stirring the glue in the mixing bowl, slowly add a little of the Borax/water solution. Immediately you’ll notice the solution beginning to clump. Keep adding the Borax solution to the glue mixture (don’t stop stirring, hands work best!) until you get the consistency you are looking for. We only use about 1/2 the borax solution because my kids like it kind of sticky and slimy. The more you add the firmer it gets.
-Remove from bowl and play!! One quick warning though, this stuff can reek havoc on clothing, carpet, and hair so use a smock and a very close eye. If you get it when its wet it is very easy to remove (warm water) but if it dries it’s not as easy. In the past I had a toddler get it in her hair and ended up having to get it cut out (nothing major thankfully!).
