Gak

8 oz. Elmer's Glue

Food Coloring

2 Tablespoons of BORAX (found in the laundry soap aisle)

8 oz. water; and

16 oz. of hot water

Mix 8 oz. of glue with 8 oz. water.  Add food coloring if desired.  In a separate container, mix 16 oz. of hot water and 2 tablespoons of Borax.  Let cool.  In a third bowl, combine 1/2 of the glue mixture 2 tablespoons of the Borax mixture-- only 1/2 cup at the time, as it won't work otherwise.  Once put together, the two solutions will solidify.   Gak can be messy, so make sure the kids are playing with it at an area that is okay to get dirty (kitchen, outside, basement, etc.)  Gak is great for working those fine motor skills in the fingers and hands.  Put some Little People in the gak and have your child try to find them.  Throw in some spoons or other containers for even more fun.  Gak will keep for a long time in an air tight container.  I like to add some glitter to make it even more interesting!

Play Dough

1 cup flour

1 cup water

2 teaspoons Cream of Tarter

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/2 cup of salt

food coloring if desired

Mix all ingredients in a saucepan and cook on low-medium heat until ingredients form a dough.  If too sticky, add a little water or if too dry, add a little flour.  Let dough cool on waxed paper.  It is also fun to add glitter to this recipe as well.  This dough lasts a long time and doesn't dry out as quickly as store brands.  Give the kids a rolling pin, cookie cutters, plastic knives, child safety scissors, straws, or any other fun object you can think of to play with in the dough.  Playing with play dough also works the fine muscles and is  wonderful for prewriting practice.  Enjoy!

Goop

Mix equal parts Sta-Flo laundry starch with Elmer's school glue.  It may seem stringy at first or really wet (add more glue) or really sticky (add more starch).  Put it in an airtight container and let it sit overnight.  It should be a nice, pliable substance.  My girls (ages 3 and 7) love to pull it, poke it, put things in it, whatever.  It is always nice and cold when we first open the container.  **This should be played with Outside or in an area you do not mind getting messy!**