Winter Sensory Play: Faux Snow Slime

What’s in store for winter sensory play? Well, your kiddo isn’t about to step foot outside in the sub-zero temps. Or maybe you live where the palm trees loom and the weather is way too warm for it to snow. Either way, your child can still get in some serious sensory play, all with a winter theme! Oh yeah, and minus the snow.

Create Your Own Winter Snow Slime Sensory Play

So, how can your child explore those frosty crystals without actually touching the real deal? With winter sensory snow slime. It’s ooey. It’s gooey. And, it gets your child exploring and experimenting – all through her senses (except for her sense of taste, this is NOT taste-safe).

This easy indoors activity combines science, math and a hint of art all into one. As a bonus, it’s also a fine motor skill-builder.

What will your child learn?

Winter weather: This faux snow slimy stuff isn’t exactly the real thing. It’s not cold and isn’t made from frozen water. But, it does provide a place to start talking about the winter weather. Before starting the slime-making, take a look outside (or on your computer – if you live in a warm climate). Ask your child to describe what she sees and how it’s different than the spring, summer or fall.
States of matter: Slime isn’t a liquid and it’s not a solid. It’s more of a plasma state. Before making the slime, ask your child to predict what will happen when she mixes the ingredients together. As she goes through the activity, have her observe how the mixture changes. When it’s complete, talk about how it feels and moves. You can even compare it to a liquid (such as water) and a solid (such as a piece of paper).
Math/measurements: You’ll need equal parts of each ingredient for this winter sensory play activity. Have your child do the measuring. She can compare the ingredients, noticing how the quantities are the same (but the actual ingredients are different). Your little learner can also observe how adding each ingredient together increases the quantity of the overall mixture (in other words, the more she adds the more she gets).
Colors: This activity makes a wintery white concoction. Even though there isn’t a rainbow of hues for her to learn from, she can explore the colors white and silver.
Sensory: Playing with the slime is an exercise in exploring texture. As your child plays, ask her to describe how slime feels in her hands. Compare this to snow. Talk about what real snow feels like. Is it cold? Is it soft? Now, compare that to the slime. If she pinches or tosses it, the slime may also make a squishy noise. Have your child listen closely, and describe what she hears.

What will you need to make sensory snow slime?

You’ll need equal parts of the following three ingredients. We used ¼ cup of each, but you can use more to make a larger quantity of slime.

Clear school glue
Liquid starch
Water

Along with those ingredients, you need …

Glitter: Use white, opal or silver sparkles (or a combination of them) for a snowy effect.

How do you make the slime?

Measure and mix equal amounts of the glue and water.
Measure the same quantity of liquid starch, and mix it in. Keep mixing until it gels together, forming a slimy consistency.
Sprinkle a generous heaping of glitter onto the slime. Mix it together. As you mix it, keep adding more glitter. You can also use a second or third color, such as opal and silver.
That’s it! Now your kiddo is ready to stretch, squish and explore with her sensory snow slime!

How can you adapt this winter activity?

If your child stresses about touching the slime or you’re worried that she might try to eat it, place the mix into a clear plastic baggie. Seal or zipper the baggie and put it on a flat surface. Your child can press, push, move and manipulate the slime through the bag. And bonus, it’s already packed up and ready to store for the next time that your child wants to get in some winter sensory play.