She holds the magnet just above the slime, waiting.
Nothing.
She lowers her hand a little closer, and the black puddle begins to lift beneath it.
She pulls back. The slime follows.
She tries again, moving the magnet slowly across the table. The slime stretches after it, rising into a long black strand before sinking back into the puddle.
She brings the magnet close one more time.
The slime reaches up. She pulls away. It comes after her.
“It’s alive!”
If your child could happily keep stretching and squishing, there is plenty more waiting in our Slime Recipes for Kids collection.
And for even more things to mix, make, and put into little hands, explore our Play Recipes for Kids collection.
Make Magnetic Slime
You only need a few ingredients to make a batch of slime that stretches, squirms, and follows a magnet across the table.
You will need:
- 1 bottle of school glue
- 3 tablespoons magnetic iron oxide powder
- Liquid starch
- Neodymium magnets
Before You Begin
This activity is for children who are well past the mouthing stage, with an adult right beside them.
Avoid breathing in or ingesting the magnetic powder, and wash hands well after play.
Neodymium magnets are extremely strong. Keep them out of children's mouths and in an adult's hands or direct control throughout the activity. Swallowing high-powered magnets can cause severe internal injuries, so seek immediate medical attention if ingestion is suspected.
Keep strong magnets away from electronics and anything else they could damage.
Make Something Magnetic!
1. Mix the Glue & Magnetic Powder
Pour the glue into a bowl and add 3 tablespoons of magnetic powder.
Use a craft stick or spoon to stir them together. Dark streaks swirl through the white glue at first. Keep mixing until the streaks disappear and the glue turns completely black.
2. Slowly Add the Liquid Starch
Add a small amount of liquid starch and stir well.
Keep adding the starch a little at a time, mixing between each addition. The mixture will begin to thicken around the stirrer and pull away from the sides of the bowl.
Go slowly. This batch needed less starch than our usual slime recipes. We used roughly 2 ounces, but stop adding it once the slime begins pulling together.
3. Knead the Slime
Lift the slime from the bowl and knead it with clean, dry hands.
It may feel sticky at first. Fold it, stretch it, and work it between your hands until it becomes smooth and stretchy.
Little hands give it a few pulls across the table, then let it puddle back down.
It looks like ordinary black slime.
Then the magnets come out.
Now Make It Move
Hold a magnet near the slime and let the kids take it from there.
They pull the slime across the table, lift long black strands into the air, then hold the magnet just out of reach to see how far the slime will stretch.
A little higher. A little farther. Around to the other side.
Why Does the Slime Move?
Sometimes the magnet hovers above the slime and pulls a long black strand right up from the table. Other times, little hands set the magnet beside the puddle and watch the two slowly pull toward each other.
Once they meet, the slime keeps coming, creeping over the edges of the magnet until it disappears completely.
“It ate it!”
The magnetic powder is what makes all of this possible. It contains iron that is attracted to the magnet, pulling the slime along with it.
That's why a magnet can lead the slime across the table, pull it up into long black strands, or disappear beneath it when little hands leave the two together.
And once the magnet is gone?
Little fingers go digging for it.
If Your Slime Feels Different
Magnetic slime can feel a little different from one batch to the next.
If yours is still sticking to little hands, knead it for another minute first. Still sticky? Add a very small amount of liquid starch, then fold, stretch, and knead it again. Go slowly. Too much starch can make the slime firm and harder to stretch.
If the slime feels right but isn't following the magnet, bring the magnet a little closer. Sometimes closing that small gap is all it takes to make the black puddle begin to move.
Make one small change, then try the magnet again.
Once the slime stretches easily and begins reaching toward it, you're ready to play.
Magnetic Slime FAQ
Can I use a regular magnet?
A regular magnet may cause a little movement, but it usually won't create the dramatic stretching and pulling you see here. We use strong neodymium magnets with our magnetic slime.
What kind of magnetic powder do I need?
We use iron oxide powder. It mixes directly into the glue and gives the finished slime the iron needed to respond to the magnet.
Can I make magnetic slime without liquid starch?
This recipe was made and tested with liquid starch, so that's the activator I recommend using here. If you change the slime base, you'll need to adjust the recipe accordingly.
How do I store magnetic slime?
Keep the slime in a sealed bag or airtight container between playtimes. Store the magnets separately and out of children's reach.
What Else Can Slime Do?
Once slime starts following magnets, you start wondering what else it can do.
Slime Bubbles
Stretch it across the table, trap a pocket of air underneath, and watch a giant slime bubble grow before it finally pops.
Sand Slime
Pour sand into the mix and feel smooth, stretchy slime turn gritty beneath little hands.
Baking Soda Slime
Squeeze it, stretch it, then add one more ingredient and watch the slime begin bubbling beneath little hands.
And there are plenty more strange, stretchy ways to play waiting in our Slime Recipes for Kids collection.
Save this magnetic slime recipe for the next time little hands are ready to make something move.
