Kid Craft Corner: Earth Day Slime

Slime. Some parents love the distractibility factor, others hate pulling it out of the carpet. Whether you’re staunchly opposed to slime or not, one thing is certain: the slime craze is here to stay. The seeming permanence of this gooey trend is more than just figurative–many conventional slimes are made with non-biodegradable ingredients. Some argue that the base for slime, PVA glue (polyvinyl acetate), seldom degrades properly in landfills. The preferred slime additives, plastic glitter and styrofoam beads, break down into imperishable microplastics. To celebrate Earth Day with the child in your life, give this biodegradable (and taste safe!) slime a try. And if you haven’t already stopped reading here, anti-slime parents, this one is a heck of a lot easier to clean up. 

To make biodegradable slime you’ll need:

  • A microwave safe mixing bowl
  • A mixing spoon or rubber spatula
  • ½ cup of water
  • 1 tbsp of psyllium husk
  • Food dye

Directions:

  1. Mix the water and food dye to make a vibrant shade of your color of choice.
  2. Stir in the psyllium husk until well combined.
  3. Microwave your mixture for one minute.
  4. Mix again.
  5. Let cool.
    1. By the time your mixture has cooled, it should be pliable and not sticky. This step can take anywhere from thirty minutes to one hour.
    2. If your slime is sticky, add a pinch of psyllium husk. If it’s too hard, add a bit of hot water.

Notes: 

  1. Essential oils
    1. To make this recipe more of a sensory experience, add 1-2 drops of essential oil to the final product.
  2. Glitter alternatives
    1. You can still have some sparkle and keep this recipe biodegradable. Try a bit of mica or cellulose glitter! 

Snap a picture of your craft and tag @beniciamagazine on Instagram. We would love to see your versions of this Earth Day inspired craft!