Are you thinking of fun gifts for Christmas? One of my go-to play time activities with youthful guests has been goop. Its super simple but many harried mothers don’t think they have the time to clean up a big mess. This is where this goop is outstanding! Since the only ingredients are corn starch, water and food coloring it’s a snap to clean up. If the kids wipe their hands on their clothing, no worries it will dry and flake off. It won’t cause any issues in the laundry.
Here is all you need to make Messy Kid Goop: Cornstarch, food coloring (kids like the neon colors available now) and water.
This is a great gift to give mothers and grandmothers. It gives them the idea of how much simple fun can fit inside a mason jar. I fill a wide mouth pint and a half or pint jars half full of cornstarch. Then I drop in the first color of food coloring. GENTLY shake the cornstarch over the drops of food coloring to coat. I always use colors that will make another color like blue and yellow to make green. Blue and red will make purple. If I am using the neon colors, I just use one color as that can stand alone.
Make sure the drops of food coloring stay in the middle of the jar so it doesn’t stick to the sides.
This way the color will be a surprise to 
them when you add the water. If it happens, just run a knife around the edge, fold over and the coloring will disappear. Fill the jar up with more cornstarch and the second color of food coloring and gently shake to hide the surprise.
Any pan with a lip will work when you are ready to play. I like metal so if they get rowdy and the whole pan falls off the table it’s safe. Pour out half the mix into a pan and add water. A little or a lot of water is up to you. Just allow the kids to work the water into the mix and watch as the color changes and the goop is created.
I didn’t have a child around so I had to enjoy this batch myself!
This goop is fun with lots of water or a little. When you add the next half the fun continues as the colors blend. Great teaching lesson about what the color wheel or mixing colors.
If the kids start with clean hands the goop will dry and you can use it again! Here is the goop after drying out a day.
I give this gift in a mason jar but after it is activated I store it in a Ziploc or plastic container that little hands can handle. I hope this will find its place under the tree this Christmas. Take time to play goop and have the kids help with the clean up. Make a memory today, You will turn around and they will be grown so take time today to play. This will be the best Christmas ever, be blessed. Anne May
Annie,
Thank you so much for a great holiday jars seminar yesterday! I really enjoyed how there was a project for the younger guests. I will have to try this recipe with my four nephews and it will be a great time to make memories, like you mentioned.
I liked how we had an excellent turn out and the holiday jars were hands on! Thank you for also providing snacks! I loved the fruit roll-ups and would love to have the recipe for it. You have convinced me that I need a purchase a dehydrator too.
Thank you so much for all you do and I so look forward to the candies next month!
Thanks again!