Just in time for Christmas, learn how to make scented Candy Cane Slime for festive sensory play.
When it comes to how to make slime with kids, I love that it incorporates math and science, along with being just plain fun.
It’s definitely one of our favorite Christmas activities for preschoolers (as well as older kids)!
Related: How to Make Slime with Kids
How to Make Candy Cane Slime
The holiday season can be overwhelming for many children. Providing opportunities for kids to engage in sensory play can help them stay calm and control strong feelings, while playing and learning.
With bright white and vibrant pink shades, Candy Cane Slime is both soothing and exciting! Scented with peppermint essential oil, this slime feels cool to the touch, while the scent of peppermint fills the air with Christmas warmth.
To make this slime you will need
- 2 4 oz bottles of Elmer’s Glue-All
- 1 cup of liquid starch, divided
- Red food coloring
- Peppermint essential oil
- 2 glass bowls
- 2 plastic spoons or wooden craft sticks
Candy Cane Slime Directions
After gathering supplies, pour 1 bottle of glue into a glass bowl.
Fill the empty bottle with warm water, shake well, then pour the water into the bowl with the glue.
Stir the mixture well, adding 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil, and set aside.
Related: Types of Slime (the Ultimate List)
Repeat, using the second bottle of glue and a new glass bowl.
Add a few drops of red food coloring or liquid watercolors to the glue mixture in addition to 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil, stir well, and set aside.
Related: Super Easy Gold Slime Recipe
Measure 1/2 cup of liquid starch, then pour it into the white glue mixture.
Stir the mixture well with a plastic spoon or wooden craft stick until it begins to clump together.
Keep stirring until the entire mixture has changed, then remove the slime and knead it with your fingertips.
Place the slime back into the bowl and allow it to rest for a minute before use.
Related: Name Candy Cane Craft for Kids
Repeat the above directions with the red glue mixture. Knead the slime well, before allowing it to rest.
Tip: To remove slime from your glass bowls, simply fill the bowl with vinegar and rub gently with your fingers.
Invite kids to play with the candy cane slime! My son enjoyed twisting the 2 colors together, then raising it into the air to watch it drip slowly back into the bowl.
Eventually, the colors will combine to create a glorious shade of pink. Then you can call it Valentine’s Day slime!
Related: Sweet Smelling Candy Cane Christmas Sensory Bin
For added fun, give kids candy cane cookie cutters, red and white glitter, a colander, and rolling pins!
Have you ever made candy cane slime with the kids?
About the Author
Thanks so much to Melissa for sharing this amazing candy cane slime recipe! Melissa is a published photographer, writer, former educator, and mother to two boys. She shares her passions for nature, crafts, and family on her blog, Fireflies and Mud Pies. Her work has been featured in magazines and on hundreds of websites, including Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Better Homes and Gardens, Country Living, Today, and Newsday.
More Candy Cane Ideas
Christmas Resources for Preschool Teachers
Save time planning (and, really, you can use all the time you have around the holidays!) with already done-for-you resources from Preschool Teacher 101. There are lesson plans, math and STEM activities, and literacy resources just for you! Be sure to check out the membership options for even more savings. You can also find us on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Click on the photos below for more information about Christmas resources:
[…] Candy Cane Slime – Make this slime around Christmas or Valentine’s Day. Pair it with one of these other candy cane activities if it’s around the winter holidays. […]