- Let’s get messy it’s time to have an Oobleck Party!
- Yes, this will be messy. But it will be awesome. You can do this.
- What is oobleck?
- So how do you make oobleck?
- Dump the colors into a bin, and get ready for some fun!
- Tips for keeping this sane?
- How did this end?
- Making oobleck is THE BEST. I can’t recommend this enough.
- When will you have an oobleck party?
Let’s get messy: it’s time to have an Oobleck Party!
It’s messy.
It’s fun.
It’s only 2 ingredients and you probably have them both.
People: meet Oobleck. One of the most amazing substances and the stuff little kid dreams are made of.
Yes, this will be messy. But it will be awesome. You can do this.
Look, I’m not going to sugar coat this. This will get messy. You will need to clean up some stuff and some kids. But this will be worth it.
Oobleck is magical and kids play with it for so long. Every time I make it, I’m reminded just how much kids love this messy science.
RELATED: Worried about the mess? Here are my best tips for messy play!
What is oobleck?
Oobleck is a non-Newtonian substance so it feels kind of like a solid and kind of like a liquid, and acts a little like both. You won’t believe it until you try it!
RELATED: Wondering how to Introduce Toddlers to Sensory Bins? Here are my sensory bin tips!
So how do you make oobleck?
EASY: it’s a 2 to 1 corn starch to water ratio.
For this activity, I made THREE batches – each batch a different color.
Each batch is 1 cup cornstarch mixed with 1/2 cup water and a drop or two of food coloring (optional). Mix it up and you’ll just know – like the way you know about a good melon.
For some reason, the turquoise food coloring always makes my kids’ hands a little blue – but it’s washes off easily. No other color ever stains them….just that one!
Dump the colors into a bin, and get ready for some fun!
We put all three colors into our storage bin.
Then I set in a bunch of plastic animals and spoons for the kids to play with. IT WAS AN OOBLECK PARTY!
My kids scooped, poured, covered, decorated, imagined, and created to their hearts content. It was the best little messy adventure to break up an otherwise very ho-hum morning.
Tips for keeping this sane?
Give each kid a wet towel for immediate clean ups and wipe downs at their leisure.
Have an exit plan ready – I knew we were going to the bath tub.
Go into this knowing that you might have to mop after. My floors can always use a mopping so I make sure to do this on a really dirty day when a quick mop can only improve things.
How did this end?
Once my kids were done – about 45 mins to 60 mins later, depending on the kid – I carried the whole bin to the bath tub. I rinsed out the bin quickly, then put kids and animals into a bubble bath together.
Everyone got clean and happy, and a mid morning bath with animals was another fun way to pass the time.
By the end of this – making the oobleck, playing, and bathing to clean had been a 2 hour adventure. WOW!
Now that’s a fantastic screen-free way to make it to nap time.
Looking for more ideas with oobleck? Check these out:
- 13 Super Fun Things to Do with Oobleck – Artful Parent
- Dancing Oobleck – Housing a Forest
- Colorful Oobleck – Little Bins for Little Hands
Making oobleck is THE BEST. I can’t recommend this enough.
If you need a way to make it to nap time – something to really eat up a good chunk of time. THIS IS IT.
The mess will be worth all the fun and memories.
When will you have an oobleck party?
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Vanessa says
We did this activity today and my 2 year old loved it! Between making it, playing and bath time we spent all morning doing this…so fun! Can you save the Oobleck for another day? Have you tried keeping it in the fridge?