DIY Silly Putty Recipe

Have you tried making your own silly putty? It’s surprisingly easy to make and so good for exercising and strengthening the fingers of your kindergarten or grade school age child. Try this simple DIY silly putty recipe and get those fingers moving.

Since the start of our journey into understanding Autism we have found quite a few effective therapies and techniques that our girls enjoy.

Top of the list has always been occupational therapy which has helped not only with their fine and gross motor development but also emotional regulation, strength building and spatial awareness. One of the great things we have found is that most of our OT tools can be tweaked to suit both of our girls, even though their individual needs are quite different.

One such tool is activities with therapy putty or silly putty. As well as using therapy grade putty, we also make our own homemade version of silly putty which the girls really enjoy working with.

Homemade Silly Putty Recipe

To make your own silly putty, you will need:

Instructions for making silly putty:

1. In one cup combine the glue and 45ml of water. Stir well until mixed together. You can add a few drops of food coloring at this stage if you like.

2. In the second cup, add the 1/4 cup of water and the borax. Stir until borax has dissolved.

3. In the glass bowl, first pour in the glue and water mixture and then slowly add in the borax solution while stirring. The two will react and begin to form a putty little substance.

4. Once the putty starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl, use your hands to squeeze and work the putty to complete the mixing process.

A Note about Borax:

• This recipe contains borax. Borax is often used in laundry, dishwashing and cleaning products. It is a naturally occurring mineral but it is also a possible skin irritant for some children and it is NOT safe for consumption. If concerned, I would recommend you use the silly putty while wearing gloves or inside a ziplock bag. It is NOT recommended for children who still mouth toys and non-food substances.
• If your putty feels too wet or sticky, slowly add small quantities of additional diluted borax to the mix, being sure to fully mix in the solution before adding more.

Once your putty is ready and your child has had time to explore it freely, check out these great putty activities to try – 21 Silly Putty & Therapy Putty Activities and 10 Things to Do With Putty (including ideas for kids who don’t like the feel of it!)

Please note: I am not an occupational therapist, just a parent. These are activities we do in our own home, not part of a recommended therapy schedule or sensory diet.