Slime can be a fun and educational tool for kids with autism. I love using it at my autism center as a reinforcer, slimy sensory activity and to increase learning, communication, hand strength and more! Enjoy these teaching tips and easy slime recipes.
What is slime?
Slime is a slimy putty, sometimes made with borax, sometime made without. It can be a fantastic sensory tool for little learners on the autism spectrum.
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Who invented slime?
Originally created by Mattel in 1976, it has recently become very popular again thanks to moms and teachers making it at home!
Ingredients you need to make slime
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- Water
- Slime activator of choice (saline solution/baking soda, liquid starch or borax powder)
- Elmers washable glue (in clear)
- Elmers washable glue (in white)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Essential oils (optional)
- Glitter (optional) — or any other items you want to add to your slime!!!
How to make slime
Slime is easy to make! Just combine the water and slime activator of choice, add the glue and food colouring (if desired). Click on the exact recipes (below) to learn the exact steps necessary to make the homemade slime you are interested in making.
Slime recipes
- Super simple slime recipe (3 ingredients) (Steampowered Family)
- Fluffy slime recipe (I Heart Naptime)
- Butter slime recipe (Life Carousel)
Slime Recipes & Educational Slime activities
Slime recipes & slime activities for Halloween
- Halloween Slime (The Best Ideas for Kids)
- Witches’ Brew Halloween Slime (I Heart Crafty Things)
Slime recipes & slime activities for Thanksgiving
- Confetti Turkey Slime (Little Bins for Little Hands)
- Cranberry Slime (Schooling a Monkey)
Slime recipes & slime activities for Christmas
- Sparkly Christmas Glitter Slime (Preschool Stem)
- Peppermint Christmas Slime (MomDot)
Slime recipes & slime activities for Valentine’s Day
- Valentine Slime (The Nerd’s Wife)
- Pink Fluffy Valentine’s Slime (The Imagination Tree)
I love this red glitter slime video!
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Slime recipes & slime activities for Saint Patrick’s Day
- Leprechaun Slime (Preschool Inspirations)
- Green Fluffy Saint Patrick’s Day Slime (A Little Pinch of Perfect)
Slime recipes & slime activities for Easter
- Easter Egg Slime (Crafty Morning)
- Easter Chick Slime (Sparkles to Sprinkles)
Slime recipes & slime activities for the 4th of July
- Red, White & Blue 4th of July Slime (Simple Play Ideas)
- Star Spangled Slime (MomDot)
I love this sprinkle slime video!
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Slime recipes & slime activities for Summer
- Ocean Slime (Bug and Buddy)
- Sand Slime (Frugal Fun 4 Boys)
How to make DIY slime without borax
Combine your slime activator of choice with water, add glue and then add in the color, glitter, essential oils and/or other accessories (as desired).
How to make slime with borax
If you are using borax to make slime, you will just combine water and borax, add glue and then add in the color, glitter essential oils and/or other accessories (as desired).
How to make slime with glue
Combine your slime activator of choice with water, add glue and then add in the color, glitter, essential oils and/or other accessories (as desired).
How to make slime fluffy
Fluffy slime often contains shaving cream which makes it super soft and fluffy! How fun is that?
- I love this Rainbow Fluffy Slime recipe (Artful Parent)!
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Order Slime on Etsy
If you would prefer to buy slime rather than making it yourself, these are some of my favorites (all available to order on Amazon)
Popcorn Slime
This multicolored unicorn slime is so much fun!
Pineapple Slime
This slime is scented which makes it even more interesting as a sensory activity for little learners with autism.
Cinnamon Slime
This must smell heavenly!
Butter Slime
Butter slime is smooth and must smell delicious as well.
Why is sensory play important for kids with autism?
Sensory play has so many benefits for kids (and adults!) on the autism spectrum. Use sensory play to increase motivation, build communication skills, develop fine motor skills, help regulate the vestibular system, increase learning opportunities throughout the day, teach new vocabulary and more. There are at least 21 benefits of sensory play for autistic learners.
How to use slime with kids with Autism
Build Communication Skills
Use this fun sensory tool to teach new vocabulary : the colors, slime, soft, stretchy, etc.
Build Head Strength
Just squeezing slime will help build your child’s hand strength. If your child or student struggles with hand strength, include squeezing slime as a daily sensory activity or sensory break.
As a Reinforcer
Incorporate slime into table activities, by using it as a reinforcer. You could reinforce each activity with a slime break afterwards or reinforcer after 3-5 table activities depending on your child’s program.
As part of a sensory break
The goal of sensory breaks is to reduce frustration and increase motivation and learning and incorporating slime into sensory breaks is a great idea!
To build eye contact skills
Maybe you are working on building eye contact with your child or in your autism classroom. In that case, you can use slime to build eye contact and visual attending by having your child follow the slime with his or her gaze.
Looks at this fun marshmallow slime video!
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If you are looking for more fun DIY slime recipes, I recommend this book!
The Slime Workshop
The Slime Workshop book is filled with fun DIY slime recipes that you can make at home or in your classroom. Slime can be a fantastic tools to include in your home program or autism classroom with your autistic learners.
More Sensory Activities for Kids with Autism
- Calming Sensory Activities for Autism
- Free Printable Sensory Break Cards for Kids with Autism
- Sensory Break Ideas
- 25 Sensory Box Ideas for Your Child with Autism
- Fabulous and Free Autism Resources for Parents
- Butter Slime Recipes (3 of our favorite recipes)
More Autism Resources
- The Successful Interaction with a Child with Autism Course – learn to better understand your autistic child or students with this complete course.
- Autism Activities Workbook Bundle – build communication skills, fine motor skills, sensory play skills and daily living skills, while helping your child or students to successfully manage any difficult behaviors, with these fun, educational, printable activities.
- Sensory Communication Workbook – Build communication skills with simple sensory activities.
- How to Make a Communication Binder Guide & Workbook – Learn how to create a Communication Binder for your child or student with autism using real photos. Follow my expert guide to learn how to use it to increase communication skills.
- Zoo Animals Play Dough Mats Bundle – use these printable play dough mat to work on the names of the animals, build language skills, and increase fine motor strength and precision in a fun, sensory way!
Slime Recipes & Activities
Which slime recipe is your favorite? Have you used slime with your little learners? Let us know in the comments below. I’d love to hear your tips!
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First published October 29, 2018. Last updated March 22, 2021 with more information, additional tips, and better readability.
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