What kid doesn't LOVE playing with bouncy balls?
For years, I have seen this simple recipe floating around the web,
never really paying much attention to it....until now.
My girls, like most kids, have a gazillion balls at home.
What is it about them that is so enticing?
When I asked the Lil Divas if they'd like to try making their own bouncing balls they starting jumping and down, yelling YES, YES, YES! I crossed my fingers and got the simple ingredients we needed, hoping this would work.
EASY HOMEMADE BOUNCING BALLS
What You Need:
Borax
corn starch
Elmer's Glue-All
warm water
food color (optional)
measuring spoons
2 bowls
What To Do:
Mixture #1 - 1st Bowl -
Add 2 tablespoons of warm water
plus 1/2 teaspoon of Borax
and stir to dissolve the Borax as much as possible.
Add food color to this mixture if desired & mix.
Bowl #2 -
Pour in 1 tablespoon Elmer's Glue-All
Add 1/2 teaspoon of the above Borax mixture
and 1 tablespoon corn starch
DO NOT MIX!
Let mixture stand for about 15 seconds
then mix the ingredients until it becomes too hard to do so.
You will be able to tell when the time is right -
it will get clumpy and combined together.
At that point, take out the mixture into your hand
and knead it in a circular pattern to form your ball.
It starts out as a sticky, gooey mess
but it quickly starts to solidify so mold it quickly.
Once your ball has hardened - go ahead and bounce it!
Note: This will not give you the same bouncy effect as a store bought ball but it bounces and the girls got a kick out of it. We found it worked better off our play mat than the regular floor.
We had a few fails before we got our balls shaped right so don't be afraid if you need to do this more than once. It is an experiment after all! The Borax mixture can be used for a few balls so as long as you have glue and cornstarch - keep molding! My tip is to be quick when forming your ball.
Be sure to store in a plastic baggie so you can play again tomorrow!
Have fun bouncing!
& don't forget to check out the rest of our Mad Science Week Fun.
Bern
So that's why you were looking for borax! That was you, right? :) This is so cool!!!!
ReplyDeletehaha, YES! Isn't it neat the things you can make with kitchen items! :)
DeleteHow fun! I love finding out how very simple ingredients make very awesome things!
ReplyDeleteAmanda - the possibilities with baking soda, cornstarch and Borax are endless! Who knew kitchen products held so much potential - LOVE it!!!
DeleteMy kids love bouncy balls! I need to get in gear and try some new things with my kids!
ReplyDeleteBrittney
www.moms-heart.blogspot.com
ohhh how cool!!!!!!!! we will have to try this!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteWe did this too and it was so much fun!
ReplyDeleteWe definitely need to do this! My dd would love it! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHow fun!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!! I pinned this one to definitely try.
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea! My son will love making these, bookmarking now :-)
ReplyDeleteOh yours turned out much better than mine did when I tried it. Ours was a failed science experiment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking to Science Sunday!
I've seen these around on PINTEREST and have not gone around to doing these...must try it soon :) Thanks so much for sharing this on Sharing Saturday.
ReplyDelete~MiaB
www.mamamiasheart2heart.com
What a brillinat idea! Karima
ReplyDeleteBIG BIG BIG TIME on my to do list! Have bought some Borax especially!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!
Maggy
I've had these on my to-try list for ages! Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for sharing with Learning Laboratory at Mama Smiles =)
I'm featuring you on my Facebook page! Thanks for linking these up in Mommy Solutions! So awesome :)
ReplyDeleteI have never used Borax before...I found one for hands and one for laundry...which one do I use to make the bouncing balls with my girls.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these wonderful ideas.