How to Make Bubbles and Clay on a Rainy Day

When the weather outside is frightful and it looks as if you'll be indoors all day with young children, it's time to call on your ingenuity. If you want to keep your youngsters occupied and away from television, let them help you create some homemade bubble stuff and salt clay.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper cups and plastic straws
• Food coloring
• Liquid dish detergent
• Glycerin
• Sugar
• Flour
• Cornstarch
• Cooking oil
• Alum
• Saucepan

1. Ask the children to help make some bubble blowers. They can trim the rims from some paper cups or string together some plastic straws.

2. For the first bubble stuff recipe, mix 1 gallon warm water with 1/2 cup of liquid dish detergent and add 1 Tbsp. of glycerin. Blend the ingredients together in a large plastic bucket and let it set for a few hours. When it's ready to use, it will feel slimy to the touch.

3. For the second recipe, mix 2 cups of warm water, 1 cup of liquid dish detergent, 1 tsp. of sugar and 3 to 4 Tbsp. of glycerin. Whisk together until the ingredients are blended.

4. To make a pliable clay, mix 2 cups of flour with 1 cup of salt, 1/2 cup of cornstarch, 1 Tbsp. of salad oil, 1 Tbsp. of alum and 2 cups of water. Blend the ingredients in a saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly. When it forms into a thick dough, remove it from the heat and let it cool.

Tips & Warnings

• For more fun, you can separate the dough into sections and let the kids color it with food coloring.
• Take care that children don't get too close to the stove or touch the hot saucepan.