The Best Slime Kits

Buying Guide

If you want a fun indoor activity for your child, making slime has become a popular pastime that allows for plenty of creativity. And rather than trying to gather all the supplies individually, going with a slime kit is much more convenient — whether you need enough supplies for one child on a rainy day or for a group at a birthday party or sleepover.

You can find pre-made slime as well as DIY activity sets. Pre-made slime is great for when you’d rather skip the mess and instead give your kids something to play with right away. However, the DIY option is most popular since making the slime and adding creative touches are a big part of the fun.

Slime kits come in many varieties that can appeal to your child’s interests. For example, you can find kits that let your kids make unicorn-themed, glittery, glow-in-the-dark, scented or extra-runny slime. Other kits let your kids make slime that resembles popular desserts, contains beads or makes crackling sounds. If you want to keep it simple, you can consider basic kits that just make plain slime in one or two colors.

Expect a DIY slime kit to contain bottles or packets of basic ingredients like glue, slime activator and dye. Your kid will mix these together along with small containers and stirring sticks. Extras like clay, soap, glitter, scented liquids, gems, sprinkles and even fake snow may be included so you can decorate the slime, change the texture or add scents.

Check how much slime the specific kit can make: You want to get one that’s big enough for your needs. Some large sets can make a dozen or more containers of slime. Not only do these kits work well for a party or bigger families, but they usually offer plenty of diversity in the types of slime you can make.

Smaller sets might make just one or two containers of slime with a particular theme. These kits can be a good option when you have one child or you’re just wanting to try out the activity.

Consider your child and the product’s age recommendation when you pick any slime kit. Some have ingredients such as Borax that can harm your child’s skin or present dangers if your young one accidentally consumes them. You can find several slime kits marketed as non-toxic that are suitable for both younger and older children.

• To get the best results, read the slime kit’s instructions carefully with your child. This will show you how much of each ingredient to use and which order you’ll use them in. The instructions should also have some troubleshooting steps in case the slime doesn’t turn out as expected.
• Making slime requires a lot of kneading so that the ingredients work together and result in the right texture for play. Additional kneading can be a good fix when the slime feels too runny or sticky.
• It’s a good idea to have your child wear gloves when making slime. Not only can this prevent contact with skin irritants, but it keeps the slime from sticking to your child’s hands. You’ll still want to have your kid wash their hands after playing, however.
• Check the ingredients list of slime kits to see if they contain anything harmful or have ingredients that your child may be allergic to.
• Even when your kids use a non-toxic slime kit, you should still supervise them, especially if they’re small. The slime itself plus small decorations like beads can present a choking hazard.
• If your child wants to make a certain color of slime and the kit doesn’t have the right dye, you can try substituting food coloring.
• Your child should store their slime in a container with a tight lid: Sometimes slime kits will provide these. It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks for the slime to dry out and no longer be useful. The ingredients used play a role in the slime’s life span, so longevity can vary by kit.
• Your child might find it enjoyable to stretch the slime out with their hands and watch the effects. However, other fun activities can help kids get more out of this creation. For example, you can roll some slime up into a ball and try to get it to bounce, or blow big bubbles into their slime with a straw.
• If your family is hosting a party, consider using the slime as both a craft activity and game. After the children make the slime, they can compete for who makes the stretchiest or bounciest kind or who makes the most creative version. Have partygoers play a version of charades in which the slime is shaped into a word, or try a scavenger hunt where the kids hide small items in their slime.