It’s Ooey, It’s Gooey – It’s Oobleck!

It’s just about that time.  You know what we mean…it’s the middle of summer, kids are getting a little bored and maybe you and your children could use a fun project that is easy to do, cheap to make and will keep them entertained all afternoon.  We’ve got just the thing 🙂The name oobleck comes from the Dr. Seuss book, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, in which oobleck is a slimy green substance that falls out of the sky.

You don’t have to wait for it to appear as it did to Batholomew, you can make oobleck at home!  It couldn’t be any more simple to make, and it is good,cheap fun that can be cleaned up in a wink when your kids are done playing…which is liable to be a good long while.

Even Ellen had a chance to enjoy playing with some Oobleck on her show:

To make a batch of Oobleck  yourself, simply mix together cornstarch and water in a ratio of approximately 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part water.  Add a little food coloring too, because why not add a bit of color to this project.

Now add some little buckets and pitchers or plastic cups for pouring, and maybe some old kitchen gadgets, and you have a foolproof recipe for fun. Why we bet even Bonnie Prince George would like a little oobleck for his royal birthday tomorrow 🙂 We have to admit it can be a bit messy, (especially with little ones) so letting the kids play in bathing suits outside may be the best idea.

When it was time to come in for dinner there was a bit of a mess on the bricks of the patio.

But a little water from the hose and 30 seconds later all the telltale evidence was completely washed away 🙂

One word of caution:  When you are cleaning up, DO NOT throw any left over oobleck down the sink or the drain as it will harden and make a visit from the plumber necessary…which means it would no longer be cheap OR fun!  You can store the leftover oobleck in a plastic container with a lid in the refrigerator for about a week.  Otherwise, throw it in the garbage bin but NOT down the drain.

This is the kind of fun any little prince or princess will be delighted by.  Ooey, gooey oobleck is just one simple way to give your children (and yourself) an afternoon filled with joy. We think that is real abundant living 🙂