A closeup of a child's hands stretching blue slime
You can add food coloring to your slime to give it an exciting and eye-catching hue.
Olga Kurdyukova/Getty Images

If you're looking for a fun and educational activity for the kids, put slime at the top of your list. Homemade slime is typically made up of household products to create a substance that's a cross between a liquid and a solid.

"Making slime is an activity the entire family can get involved in," says blogger Nadia Tayob of Fun With Mama. "Slime is a great way to engage kids in a tactile sensory experience and spark creativity. For younger children, this kind of sensory play can improve fine motor skills and help them learn to focus."

Slime also offers a great way for kids to learn scientific principles while enjoying an exciting activity. With just a few ingredients, you can make a variety of colors and types of slime at home for endless fun.

How to make different types of slime

A kid holding glittering blue slime.
Take your slime to the next level by using glitter glue to turn it into glitter slime or adding in shaving cream to create fluffy slime.
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While a classic slime recipe provides hours of fun, there are plenty of ways to switch up the texture and color of slime.

  • Cloud slime: Mix together 1 cup glue and 1 cup shaving cream. Slowly stir in ¾ cup liquid laundry starch until the slime strengthens. Activate ½ cup instant snow with water until fluffy. Knead the instant snow into the prepared slime to make a slime that looks and feels like a fluffy, stretchy cloud.
  • Fluffy slime: Fluffy slime is made with shaving cream to make the finished texture softer. Mix together 1 cup clear glue and 1 cup shaving cream. Slowly stir in ¾ cup liquid laundry starch until the slime strengthens.
  • Butter slime: This slime is soft, smooth, and not as sticky as other kinds. Mix together 1 cup white glue, 1 cup shaving cream, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 2 pumps of any lotion. Add in 2 tablespoons of contact lens solution to strengthen and knead the slime with a small amount of cornstarch until it's no longer sticky.
  • Crunchy slime: This slime enhances the sensory play of slime even further with a unique textured feel. Make slime and knead 1 cup of mini foam balls into it.
  • Clear slime: Use clear glue instead of white glue in a classic slime mixture to switch up the look.
  • Glitter slime: Swap out the white glue in a classic slime recipe for any color of glitter glue to give your mixture an extra glimmer.
  • Glow-in-the-dark slime: Make a classic slime recipe and add two to three squirts of glow-in-the-dark paint before adding the contact lens solution. Mix it up and watch it glow.

How long does slime last?

People playing with pink slime.
Store slime in an airtight container.
Stefan Cristian Cioata/Getty Images

While slime can provide hours of play, you can also store it for your next session. Store the slime in an airtight container and place it in the fridge. According to Tayob, slime will last for months when stored correctly. If your slime is too hard when you pull it out again, knead it with a bit of water or hand sanitizer to help it soften. If it's too sticky, knead it with a bit of baking soda or add saline solution.

Insider's takeaway

While slime is available for purchase in many store toy sections, it can also be made at home just as easily. Making homemade slime allows you to customize the recipe to create different colors, textures, and add other decorations. It's quick and simple to make and provides endless hours of fun and educational opportunities for kids.

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