Slime. It’s ooey. It’s gooey. It’s all the rage. And, when you have a little scientist who loves her experiments, this is loads of fun.
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So, what is MindWare’s Science Academy: Slime Lab?
The Science Academy: Slime Lab is a box that comes with everything you need (except water) to make all kinds of slime, from fish eggs (aka: red spheres or balls) to worms.
Now, I’d like to point out that this kit is intended for kids ages 8 and up WITH parent supervision. So, this kit might not be for everyone, especially if you’re not looking for something to do with your preschooler or toddler.
That being said, Sweet Pea (4 years old) LOVED this. It gave us something “special” to do together while her brother took a nap (although he’d love it too). And, she felt like such a big girl, and a real scientist with her gloves, safety goggles, and mask. Now, given her age, it was all a bit too big for her, but the goggles and mask worked. And, I don’t think the gloves were truly needed, but they’re a good addition because they teach lab safety and we were working with chemicals.
I love that this box has everything needed to make these creepy crawlies out of slime. It made it so much easier than getting the items myself. And, it comes with its own little tray, so kids learn to put their lab supplies and chemicals in specific spots, following a more scientific approach. You know, to go with the goggles, safety gloves, and mask for the “fumes” (didn’t smell any) and potential splashes (possible, but didn’t happen).
Now, if you’ve been around me at all or read through more than this post, you know that ready made kits and kids being all grown-up and doing things precisely isn’t my usual thing. But, this was a gift Sweet Pea got for her birthday, and she truly loved following something so specific and exact. She literally squealed with excitement! 🙂 And, she was cautious. When she wasn’t sure, she referred to the directions (yes, even though she can’t read them) and asked me to tell her what to do next or to show her how.
The Science Academy: Slime Lab comes with directions for several different experiments (some of them variations of the same thing). The directions are easy to read and use, even for someone who is very clearly not a chemist (me!).
Why slime?
- It’s fun.
- It’s versatile.
- It’s a great sensory activity.
- There are many different ways to make it.
- It’s different.
- It’s science.
- Kids of all ages enjoy it.
Why science?
Oh, I could go on and on about this. But, in the spirit of sticking with the kit, slime, and chemistry, I’ll go with the learning opportunities that we came across as a result of using the Science Academy: Slime Lab kit (find it at Target too!).
- Reading AND following directions.
- Measuring small amounts.
- Using different tools and equipment.
- Following the scientific process.
- Learning about what chemistry is and what chemical reactions are in a forgiving and safe way.
- Fine motor skills practice and hand-eye coordination (pipettes, pouring, etc.)
- Mommy/Daddy/Adult and Me time (can’t be distracted when we’re messing with chemicals and doing chemistry!)
- Great discussion opportunities
- New vocabulary (one of THE greatest predictors of a child’s success in school!)
- Ability for your child to practice different techniques and be a little creative with making stuff from slime
- Gives children something to be proud of that they did and made
- Takes adults out of their comfort zones, creating a different type of bonding experience with their child(ren)
We really like this kit and enjoyed doing the experiments in it. It was neat to see Sweet Pea gain confidence and have a better understanding of what to do next, which came with doing more experiments. It never ceases to amaze me how much kids pick up, especially at this young age, from doing science!
After doing the Slime Lab, I bet these kits would be fun too!
