Good Clean Fun

I think Goop must have come along after my childhood. I certainly don't remember playing in slimey cornstarch. Maybe it was around when my sister was a kid--didn't they used to dump it on that dark, curly-haired girl's head on that "You Can't Do That on Television" (I think)? Whatever the messy kids' show was.

Anyway, I had my first introduction to Goop today, via craft time with DD and DS at school. Buckets of pastel-colored muck welcomed our appearance and beckoned to us. But even DS didn't put his hands in right away. Eventually, with some coaxing, he was soon up to his elbows, making "rain" and swirls in the mess. DD was skeptical and cautious. We know she doesn't like her hands to get dirty at all--and DP has discovered why: she doesn't want to get Shirt (her lovey, a striped blue-and-gold 12 month jersey with the number45 on it that used to be her brother's) dirty and even if Shirt isn't around, she worries about her hands. But soon, those hands were ever-do-daintily exploring the goop. And eventually she was also up to her elbows.

I must admit to liking it myself (as much as the teacher, who played with her own bucket the whole time). It was therapeutic to feel the wet, cool, smooth, slightly resistant muck in your hands. And it was challenging--I kept thinking if I grabbed enough of it, I could make a ball or something. No can do; it literally slips through your fingers. And afterwards, my hands were soft--it's an exfoliant! Can't imagine a whole bath in it, though. But I think my feet would like it.

The teacher said she mixed 1 1/2 boxes of cornstarch with 2 cups water and food coloring. She says she's also added vanilla extract to it successfully. I include two more options below (I think she had tried the Borax one, but it didn't work).

The kiddos can't wait to try it again.

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The cheap recipe (what we used in class)
1 box of corn starch
4-5 cups of water
Mix until thick (add water or corn starch if needed)

The good recipe (will last for months)
Portion "A"
2 cups white glue
2 cups distilled water
15-30 drops of food coloring

Portion "B"
1 tablespoon Borax
1 quart distilled water
Combine portion "A" and "B" in separate bowls. "A" and "B" MUST be exactly equal amounts before they can be combined.

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