Kids Love Putty, Goop, and Gak

Parents and Grandparents need quick recipes for fun when children are bored even though that word has been banished from the house. Easy homemade recipes for Wacky Putty, Goop, Gak, and Glop come to the rescue. All of them have interesting texture and creative possibilities.  Young scientists can experiment and observe what happens when they change the recipe slightly.
 Wacky Putty, Cool Goop
 None of these recipes are edible so make sure no one (or pet) in the house eats them. These first recipes are recommended for ages three and older.
 For Putty, mix one part white school glue (Elmer’s) with one part Sta Flo liquid starch found at grocery stores. Stir the ingredients with a spoon and then knead with your hands.  Add a little more starch if the mixture becomes too sticky. After children stretch it, create a ball, bounce it, roll it into worms and other shapes it may become sticky again. Simply work in a few drops of starch. Three drops of food coloring may be worked in to mix colors and exercise little fingers.
  To make Goop, place one part salt, one part flour, and one part water in a bowl so children can mix it in a circular pattern with a spoon. Once mixed, place in a strong freezer plastic bag or double bag with a strong closure. Place drops of one or more food colorings in the bag so children two and older can squish gently and make secondary colors.
  Spread goop in a box or can and press macaroni while still wet. Allow to dry and paint with poster paint.
Rainbow Glop and Gak
  Rainbow Glop is a fun for toddlers and older. Mix 1/3-cup sugar, 1-cup 
cornstarch, and four cups cold water. Heat on low and stir (adults) until thick. When cool, place in a strong freezer bag (or double bag) and add three drops each of different food colors. Zip lock closed and reinforce top and seams with packing tape or duct tape. Children can squish into rainbow colors.  This is excellent to teach how primary colors mix to make secondary colors of purple, green, and orange. Do not pour any kind of Goop down the sink.
There are Slime and Gak recipes with and without Borax. To make a simple slime mix without Borax use equal parts StaFlo laundry starch and Elmer’s white glue. Other white glue does not work well. To experiment, add a little more starch to the mix until it is stiffer and you can place a straw in it and blow amazing bubbles. Recipes can be refrigerated for several days but are not long lasting. Throw away in the garbage .
Photos: Iris Katers; Fran Darling
More Ideas and Activities....See the authors’ book “Learning Through the Seasons” at area bookstores and grandparentsteachtoo.org. For more help to prepare young children for success in school see the authors’ web site: www.grandparentsteachtoo.org. Also check our audio Podcasts WNMU Radio 90; Youtube video activities; and join us on Pinterest