Since toddlers often get in trouble for making messes, I think it’s fun to give them some activities where messiness is not only part of the package, it’s encouraged! The occasional romp in the dirt and some puddle splashing are just delights for children (even if they are not always so delightful for parents). So, here’s a classic homemade messy craft experiment that’s reasonably easy to clean up. Goop!

The recipe is simple–1 part cornstarch : 2 parts water. I found this recipe in First Art : Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos, but I know it’s been around forever and goes by various names. In our house, it’s Goop. The cool thing about it is that it seems like a solid until you hold it and it starts to drip down from your hand. I’m not sure of the science behind the whole thing–I’ll have to do some research.

Materials we used. The food coloring is totally optional, but it added another fun element.

Pearl is such a little lady. She barely got any mess on her.

Monkey, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed getting Goop all over himself. It's so easy to clean, so I just let him have fun exploring. And, yes, he is sitting quite precariously on the edge of the table.

And that's why I did this and moved them to a "safer" location. But you know what? Once Monkey was on the floor, he got distracted by all the things available on floor level. He was much more interested in the Goop when he was on the table.

The kids had a great time with this concoction. And, I have to admit, I really enjoyed it, too! It was kind of soothing to play with the stuff, letting it ooze from my fingers and squeezing it when it was in a more solid state.

So, go ahead and make some Goop in your home and embrace the mess!

Related Posts

• No Related Post