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Homemade flubber recipe for kids

April 16, 2015 by Kate 64 Comments

Have a go at this simple homemade flubber recipe for kids. It’s quick to make, uses only a few common household ingredients and will have your children playing for hours. Great for sensory play and developing fine motor skills. 

Make flubber recipe for kids the easy way.

Making flubber has been on my list of things to make for a very long time. In fact making it today made me wonder why I’d waited so long. I’d quickly whipped some up while Possum (aged 3 years) was at kindergarten and I’m so glad that I did. She just loved playing with it. Flubber has a very unusual goopy texture that is rubbery and has a lot of stretch. It’s hard not to want to get your fingers into it. 

Recommended age: 5+ years old or sensible enough not to eat

(Active supervision is required on all my crafts and activities.)

Making flubber recipe at homeTo make this awesome homemade flubber recipe you will need –

  • 2 x bowls
  • spoon
  • 3/4 cup cold water
  • 1/2 cup hot water
  • 1 cup Elmer’s glue
  • 1 tsp borax
  • Food colouring

For those not keen on using a Borax recipe, allow me to suggest this awesome goop.

SONY DSC

So here is what you need to do with the ingredients – 

1st step – Mix together the cold water, a few drops of food colouring and glue in bowl 1.

2nd step – In second bowl mix together borax and hot water. Stir until borax has completely dissolved.


How to make flubber at home

3rd step – Slowly add the glue mixture to the borax mixture and stir well.

4th step – Pour off any excess water and you’re ready to play! 

Playing with flubberOf course you can colour your flubber whatever colour you like! 
This colour was achieved with four drops of blue food colouring. 

Stretchy flubber fun for kidsThis flubber makes for such an interesting sensory experience for kids.
It’s like touching squishy rubber. 

SONY DSCYou can quickly pull it apart and the rubbery texture breaks, as shown above. 

Stretching flubber uses fine motor skillsYou can also stretch this flubber! 

Super stretchy sensory flubber for kidsWe had fun challenging each other to see who could stretch it the longest before it broke. This was a fun way for Possum to learn about how to make rough estimates of length and problem solve ways to improve on previous attempts. 
FlubberFlubber is lots of fun for kids. We will be sure to make it again sometime soon as Possum really enjoyed the textural experience. Next time we might decide to make it in various colours or make something similar without Borax. 

What colour flubber would your child choose? 

Please note this important information

Some people may not wish to use this recipe because it includes Borax. Borax is considered toxic if eaten. It’s important that you consider those playing with this flubber and avoid it if there is a possibility of them tasting it. Constant supervision is required at all times.  There are various opinions for and against using Borax, but safety must always come first. 

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Filed Under: 3 - 5 years, 5 - 10 years, Sensory Play Tagged With: recipe, sensory play

Comments

  1. sonja says

    April 26, 2015 at 3:00 pm

    Is the glue clear glue or white glue?

    Reply
    • Kate says

      April 26, 2015 at 9:57 pm

      Great question thanks Sonja! I used white glue.

      Reply
      • Beverley says

        April 18, 2016 at 3:55 am

        Either one works. It just affects the colour of the finished product. If you use clear glue, it comes out more see-through.

        Reply
        • Kate says

          April 18, 2016 at 11:05 am

          Thanks for the great feedback Beverley. πŸ™‚

          Reply
      • Paulina says

        May 17, 2017 at 10:32 pm

        Where can you find Elmer’s glue in Australia? Thanks

        Reply
        • Kate says

          May 18, 2017 at 10:58 am

          Hi Paulina! Thanks for your question. I think I purchased mine from Spotlight, but if you can’t find it there I would also suggest Officeworks or Bunnings. I’m sure I’ve spotted the glue there too. Might be worth calling them first to double check. I can be hard to find. Having said that, regular PVA glue could possibly work too.

          Reply
    • Fatima says

      August 28, 2016 at 12:20 am

      Clear

      Reply
    • lorra says

      January 10, 2017 at 8:50 pm

      hi Kate, the recipe sounds awesome! I’ve got the ingredients but I don’t want to make such a large amount. when I divide the borax and the glue, do I divide the water too?

      Reply
      • Kate says

        January 10, 2017 at 9:11 pm

        Absolutely Lorra. πŸ™‚ A smaller amount would be easily done by dividing all the ingredients. Have lots of fun!!

        Reply
  2. Neha Ahmed says

    April 26, 2015 at 7:44 pm

    Hi Kate,
    I wanot to make it but actually borax it something that I h haven’t used yet so can I use vinegar as a subsitute or something else that would work.
    Please do let me know so I can make it
    Neha xox

    Reply
    • Kate says

      April 26, 2015 at 9:56 pm

      Hi Neha!
      The borax is actually quite an important ingredient in making this flubber and I really can’t suggest a replacement for it. There are lots of great slime type recipes around but to achieve the rubbery texture you’ll need borax.

      Reply
      • Laura says

        May 19, 2016 at 1:11 am

        What about Diatomaceous Earth? You can get one that is edible. Not that you want your children to eat it, but it’s natural and similar to borax. I mix it in my juice every day it’s a wonderful supplement! if your not familiar with it Google it. The only thing you have to be careful with is when mixing it up don’t get it in your eye’s, after it’s mixed up it’s completely safe.

        Reply
        • Kate says

          May 22, 2016 at 1:19 pm

          Thanks Laura! I’m not familiar with that brand but I can certainly find a version of it here in Australia. Very much appreciate the tip lovely. I’m excited to try it out.

          Reply
          • Nicole says

            November 5, 2018 at 9:05 am

            Diatomaceous earth is actually the crusts of long dead little organisms called diatomes. It is used in several of the same ways as boric acid, for washing, supplements, and insect killing, but is not a chemical compound. So, in terms of using it for making flubber, it might work but it’s more likely to just change the texture of the flubber.

  3. neha says

    April 27, 2015 at 1:24 am

    Well means that I won’t be able to make this amazing flubber nut no offense because there many great recipes of yours like this one do I bet I will try one of them on day.

    Thx for the reply.
    Neha..

    Reply
  4. neha says

    April 27, 2015 at 11:04 pm

    Ooo lucky I went to the market in search of borax and guess what…
    I got it and now I am super excited to make this flubber.

    Can’t even imagine
    We’ll thx
    Neha

    Reply
  5. Judy says

    May 1, 2015 at 12:51 pm

    How long can this be kept? How do you recommend it is stored?

    Reply
    • Kate says

      May 2, 2015 at 11:30 am

      Great question Judy. It can be stored in a zip tight bag (with the air removed). It’s hard to say how long it can be stored for but I wouldn’t really keep it for more than a week or so. Hope that helps.

      Reply
  6. Hantie says

    May 5, 2015 at 4:29 pm

    please tell me where I can buy Elmers glue because I don’t have a glue how this glue looks

    Reply
    • Kate says

      May 5, 2015 at 4:51 pm

      Hi Hantie. I purchased mine from the supermarket but you can also get it from craft stores. Google the name and you’ll be able to see some images so you know what you’re looking for.

      Reply
  7. Alyssa says

    August 2, 2015 at 3:59 pm

    hey whats borax

    Reply
    • Kate says

      August 2, 2015 at 10:07 pm

      Google.com explains it better than me Alyssa but you can find it in your laundry section at the supermarket.

      Reply
      • Victoria says

        January 8, 2017 at 12:05 am

        Can u make it any color

        Reply
        • Kate says

          January 10, 2017 at 9:14 pm

          Absolutely Victoria. You can make it whatever colour you like. I’m tempted to make this again and change the colour. Thanks for the inspiration lovely. πŸ™‚

          Reply
  8. Emily says

    October 8, 2015 at 1:04 pm

    I made this for the first time today with my special needs preschool class. They went crazy for it! Aside from the sand table, I am not sure they have played this much with anything this year. I loved it too! Many of them found it very fun to snip with scissors.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 9, 2015 at 9:12 am

      Oh Emily, thank you for letting me know of the great experience you and your preschool class had. It would be such great fun snipping it with scissors. Love that! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  9. nina says

    November 25, 2015 at 9:41 am

    Hi, I’m in England and we don’t have borax over here, can you recommend an alternative?? Would love to make this with my kids

    Reply
    • Kate says

      November 25, 2015 at 2:40 pm

      Not sure if this would help you Nina…

      http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2013/07/borax-free-slime-dough.html

      Reply
  10. Lydia says

    December 6, 2015 at 6:03 am

    The ideas are really fantastic and is helpful

    Reply
    • Kate says

      December 7, 2015 at 11:13 pm

      Thank you so kindly Lydia. Be sure to subscribe.

      Reply
  11. Craig says

    January 11, 2016 at 2:30 am

    You can make this a lot easier elmers glue / generic of elmers glue the squeeze bottle of course and laundry detergent.. Empty two bottles of glue in bowl and at detergent little by little I don’t have the portion of how much detergent u actually need sorry. But as you mix it it will get clumpy if it’s still stringy like glue add more detergent stir and add little by little you will notice it forming tomorrow of a solid glob. U can start kneeding with your hands it will feel wet just dry your hands through the process. And kneed again. start to finish I would say it takes 10 mins until u have a good solid glob. Minimal clean up if don’t right..

    Reply
    • Kate says

      January 12, 2016 at 12:48 pm

      Sounds wonderful and I love hearing of new ways of making such things! Thanks heaps Craig. I’ll give it a go.

      Reply
  12. rebecca says

    January 22, 2016 at 11:05 pm

    Will boric acid work as well as borax?

    Reply
    • Kate says

      January 22, 2016 at 11:12 pm

      Great question Rebecca because they are basically the same thing. I have never tried boric acid but it could possibly work. If you do try it, pop back and let me know. πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • rebecca says

        January 23, 2016 at 6:21 pm

        Gonna try it and see cos we don’t have borax around here in India.

        Reply
        • Kate says

          January 26, 2016 at 4:27 pm

          Please be sure to let me know how you go Rebecca. Thank you. πŸ™‚

          Reply
  13. Emilia says

    April 18, 2016 at 11:45 pm

    Did you know that if you make a ball out of flubber, you can make it bounce?

    Reply
    • Kate says

      April 21, 2016 at 1:26 pm

      Whaaaaat! I’m seriously going to try that out Emilia. Thank you!!!!

      Reply
  14. Brianna Long says

    June 18, 2016 at 7:39 am

    Hi Kate,

    Just a quifk, crazy question. I’m new to this arts and crafts stuff and I just might be asking a plain dumb question. What’s buried exactly? Like I said dumb question.

    Bree

    Reply
    • Kate says

      June 18, 2016 at 10:56 am

      Hi Bree!
      Oh my gosh, there is seriously no such thing as a dumb question to me. I’m super glad you asked. Were you asking about ‘buried’ like in your answer or Borax? Autocorrect can be cheeky. Because I can’t see where I’ve written the word buried in the post I’m going to assume you mean Borax. Fabulous question. Borax is actually a sodium powder that you can find in the laundry aisle. People might sometimes use this powder when washing their clothes as it can be a deodoriser. Obviously it isn’t edible but it’s quite affordable and get for projects like this Flubber one. Thanks Bree. Pop back and let me know if I’ve helped you out. Like I said, I am just assuming you’re talking about Borax. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  15. Erin says

    November 25, 2016 at 2:06 pm

    Not sure what I did wrong but mine turned out like rubbery scrambled eggs and wouldn’t stretch, just quite brittle? Any thoughts? I followed the recipe with the the only substitute using generic kids pva art and craft glue.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      November 25, 2016 at 2:43 pm

      Hi Erin. Thank you for contacting me. It does take a bit of kneading to get it to combine and get to the point it can stretch. Did you try to knead it? If the mixture was very dry then it must have needed most of the borax liquid to give it more moisture. It does start off a bit like rubbery scrambled eggs, but with a bit of work I find it comes together. I hope that’s helpful.

      Reply
  16. lorra says

    December 18, 2016 at 6:42 pm

    can I add less glue? will the result change?

    Reply
    • Kate says

      December 21, 2016 at 11:05 am

      Hi Lorra. I’m sorry, I think it would change the result. You could reduce the amount of borax mixture if you only have a small amount of glue available to you.

      Reply
  17. Kanja eskin says

    January 10, 2017 at 8:53 pm

    hi Kate if I divide the borax and the glue, do I divide the water too?

    Reply
    • Kate says

      January 10, 2017 at 9:00 pm

      Yes lovely, I would divide the water as you have divided the other ingredients. Have fun! πŸ™‚

      Reply
      • Kanja eskin says

        January 11, 2017 at 4:47 pm

        thank you so much! by the way, the recipe sounds awesome.

        Reply
        • Kate says

          January 12, 2017 at 6:43 pm

          It seriously is Kanja. πŸ™‚

          Reply
  18. kiki says

    January 13, 2017 at 5:59 pm

    hi katy. I tried the recipe but it did not come out as what is shown in the pictures. instead, mine came out all liquidy and it stank. it did not have the rubbery texture either.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      January 16, 2017 at 12:01 am

      How strange Kiki! What brand of ingreidents did you use? Which country are you located? Sometimes ingredients differ between countries, but I might be able to get you an alternative so it works for you.

      Reply
  19. Lulu says

    January 24, 2017 at 4:53 am

    Hi kate these sounds like fun…I just have a question i know all slime recipes call for borax but is it safe for kids?

    Reply
    • Kate says

      January 24, 2017 at 11:11 pm

      Hi Lulu.
      This link might be of interest to you. It’s completely up to you what you decide from the information. πŸ™‚
      http://crunchybetty.com/getting-to-the-bottom-of-borax-is-it-safe-or-not/

      Reply
  20. Woody says

    February 2, 2017 at 11:28 am

    What are the ingredients I can’t find it

    Reply
    • Kate says

      February 2, 2017 at 12:42 pm

      That’s strange because they are right there in the contents. Scroll down Woody. You’ll see I’ve listed what you need and how to put it together to make the flubber.

      Reply
  21. Lindsay says

    February 7, 2017 at 9:39 am

    If I use clear or clear green glue and neon green food coloring will I make flubber from the Robin Williams movie?

    Okay on to my more serious question slime recipes also use borax and elmers glue what makes this different?

    Reply
    • Kate says

      February 10, 2017 at 11:52 am

      Hahaha love it Lindsay. Check out this recipe as it does have Borax like many others.

      Reply
  22. Lillie says

    March 12, 2017 at 7:59 am

    Where is the recipe??

    Reply
    • Kate says

      March 16, 2017 at 1:24 pm

      Read the post Lillie and you will see that I’ve added step by step instructions. πŸ™‚
      Hope that helps.

      Reply
  23. Anonymous says

    November 28, 2017 at 12:33 am

    Can I use PVC Glue instead of Elmer’s Glue?

    Reply
    • Kate says

      November 28, 2017 at 10:16 am

      Yes, I believe that works too! πŸ˜€

      Reply

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Welcome
Hello and welcome!
My name is Kate and I am a mum to two little girls, Possum and Boo. We have lots of fun together learning with play at home and are pleased to share some of what we do with you.
Read my about page to find out more.

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