Best Slime and Putty for Kids
The Zen Lab DIY Slime Kit is a kit with lots of different slime colors in small containers and loads of accessories to keep the fun going. This kit includes additives for the slime, plus molds, knives, straws, and more. During testing, little ones found this slime good for hours of fun as it challenged their creativity with so much to do.
The quantity of any one color of slime is small, which made sharing more difficult and prevented fun longer stretching of slime. Also, the small additives can be messy, and whatever doesn't adhere to the slime will be everywhere in short order without adult help. Overall, we like what you get in this kit and think kids will enjoy the opportunity to work with the different additives and accessories, providing hours of fun.
The Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty is a purplish putty that is so fun to play with you may not even give it to your kids. We love this slime for all that it is and all that it isn't. It stretches to great lengths, can be made see-thru, twists and folds, and never gets hard or stiff. If your little one accidentally leaves it out, it won't dry, and in our test home with multiple dogs, it even managed to avoid collecting hair and dirt. This putty is also plentiful enough for two, and our testers had no trouble sharing.
The only real downside we had with this putty was the tin could be harder to open if putty got stuck between the lids and container or was put on crooked. We recommend younger players be given the tin without the lid, so parents can put it on and take it off. Overall, this putty is fun, colorful, long-lasting, and great for kids with sensory needs or who like to fidget.
The Purple Ladybug 3 Slime Putty is a pack of three different kinds of putty that all have a waxy feel. They aren't like any putty we've ever seen, but once kids tried them, they really liked them. The pack includes a glow-in-the-dark putty, a sensitive to UV light putty with little black light, and a heat-sensitive putty. The light and heat-sensitive putties change color when you use them, and our testers couldn't get enough of them. The included flashlight lets kids make patterns in the putty, and the heat-sensitive putty led to timed trials to exam the amount of color change. The changes were fun for testers, and they spent more time with this putty pack than most of the competition.
We aren't sure what chemicals are being used in this putty, and we wonder if any of them might irritate sensitive skin. None of our testers had any trouble, but it is something to consider that they potentially contain more chemicals than a non-transforming product. Also, the tins can get stuck closed if putty gets stuck between the lid and the container. It isn't a big deal; however, we recommend only adults putting lids on to avoid this problem. Overall, this inexpensive putty pack is great for sensory fun, observing changes with stimuli, and sharing with siblings or friends.
The Meland Fluffy Slime is a cool round container of fluffy, puffy slime that is super stretchy. It comes in four colors divided by plastic that you can play with separately or mush together. The slide is scented, but it isn't strong or offensive, and it seems to dissipate over time. Our testers really enjoyed the texture and pliability of this slime, and it leaves hands dry instead of sticky, which is a bonus for parents.
Once mushed together, there is no way to get them apart, and the resulting color is not appealing. However, our testers didn't mind. We suspect the lifespan of this slime is less than regular slime as it seems to dry out faster. Also, since it is only one kind with no accessories, it probably won't keep little one's attention as long as some of the competition. Overall, if you are looking for fluffy or "cloud" slime, we like this option, and the fact that it comes ready to play with is a bonus for busy parents and impatient kids.
The Original Stationery Unicorn Slime Kit is a tub of fun with more accessories than you can shake a stick at. This pink tub has slime and lots of cool things for mixing, including scent and color. It comes with a book of how-to's, and you get to make the slime yourself, which can be fun interaction for kids and parents to do together.
This kit really needs adult involvement and is not something you can hand over to a kid to do on their own. There is a lot of opportunity for messes, and we worry it could stain or become permanently smelly. However, if you can keep things clean and have a designated station for set up and play, this could offer the whole family fun.
The National Geographic Mega Slime Kit & Putty Lab is a ready-to-go kit with several kinds of putty and slime to work with. We like that there is no setup with this kit and that kids can change from one container to another when they get bored with the properties of one. This kit has 3 types of putty and several interesting slime choices, including liquid slime we didn't see elsewhere.
Some of the slime is messy and could easily get stuck in the carpet, so you'll want to limit where you play with it. Also, the color-changing putty is not as good as the one found in the putty kit we love. However, overall, we love that this kit has so many potential options to keep little ones busy, and we think the kit has something for everyone, no matter their preference.
The Kicko Glow in The Dark Slime is a cool pack of glowing slime in different colors. Each color comes in its own container that is easy for kids to open and close. The slime is cool to the touch and has a wet feel some testers liked.
The quantities in each cup are small, so it isn't a good go-to for big projects. Also, some kids may not like the wet feel even though it doesn't make your hands wet. This slime will dry out if not kept in a closed container, and its lifespan is likely shorter than the putty in this review. Overall, this is a great choice for multiple kids at parties or siblings. It would also make a great pack for keeping a spare on hand when one lands in the dirt or gets covered in hair.
The Kicko Galaxy Slime Party Pack is a six-pack box of small slime containers. This slime has a fun wet feeling that keeps hands dry and is a purple and blue color that reminds you of the galaxy. Testers liked squishing the slime between their fingers and feigning gross-out moments and the slick feeling.
This slime feels wet and has a liquid consistency. Some testers didn't like the feeling and didn't play with it for long. It can also dry out if not stored properly, and we think younger users might forget to keep it contained. While this kind of slime probably has a shorter fun factor than some of the more versatile competition, we can see how it would be a big hit as party swag or favors and think the price is just right for sharing with friends.
The National Geographic Slime Science Lab is a small kit for making your own slime. This kit includes dry powder, a storage container, and a stir stick for quick and fairly swift slime making. We think hands-on kids will like watching the slime develop, and there is even some potential for learning with the included how-to booklet.
This slime requires more parental supervision and interaction than some of the competition. You'll also need to use your own mixing bowl, and while we didn't have any long-term issues with our test bowl, we can imagine some parents will have reservations about this. While it isn't the best choice for those looking for a grab-and-go fun time with slime, it could be a good choice for those who like a little creating with their slime time.
The Cloud Slime Kit is a two-pack of scented slime with a small plastic toy on top. The consistency is akin to fluffy slime, and kids liked how it felt and how it was stretchy and moldable. There are a few colors to choose from, each with different smells and toys.
The odor of these products is strong, really strong. So strong we didn't like it, and testers chose not to play with it. Also, the small plastic toys are really cheap and similar to something you'd get out of a gumball machine at the dentist. In general, we weren't impressed with the products, and with so many other options to choose from, it didn't fit the bill.
Why You Should Trust Us
BabyGearLab has been buying and testing gear for kids and babies hands-on for over 8 years. This good-time review was led by Senior Review Editor, Wendy Schmitz. Wendy and her two sons worked together to select the most intriguing and popular slime and putty options of the day for testing. They spent weeks assessing each product for fun value, quality, features, and more.
Analysis and Test Results
We research, bought, and played with (er, we mean tested) 10 top slime and putty products to find the best selections for kids. Our kid testers took their jobs seriously, assessing and creating various putty and slime options for quality, features, and play-ability to determine which options were better than the competition.
Quality
The products in our review vary in quality and makeup from simple, straightforward wet slime to fluffy foamy slime and thicker, more sustainable putty. Even the putty varies from a thick dry paste feel to a soft wax consistency. While we suspect that each product will likely outlast its level of fun or interest for some children, not all of it is presented thoughtfully for long-term play.
We love the Meland Fluffy Slime, but we suspect that, like our testers, most little ones will smoosh the colors together into one great pile as more is better, and it is a super cool consistency that begs to be bigger. However, the resulting slime is an off-putting brown color that most testers were sort of grossed out by eventually, and it resulted in less playtime than if the color were more pleasant or only one shade. This slime also struggles when left open for too long and has a shorter lifespan than some putty products.
The Kicko Glow in The Dark Slime and the Kicko Galaxy Slime are also lower quality compared to some of the competition. These smaller containers have less overall product than most competitors in this lineup, and the slime is a wet consistency that can easily dry out if the lid is not put on tightly. Also, both types were easy to drop accidentally and are not carpet friendly, which resulted in a quick end of good times and a fast trip to the trash covered in dog hair. These options might be great for parties and short-term silliness, but they won't do for the long haul or those looking for long-term sensory fun or inquisitive learning. The Original Stationery Unicorn Slime Kit is also sort of sub-par quality-wise. While it has many accessories and additives for slime, it is all generic and in small quantities. It will provide a lot of DIY fun, but it isn't made to last very long or to be reusable.
The highest quality choices include the Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty, which seemingly lasts forever and remained remarkably clean during testing even in the face of a dog-filled home. It comes in a nice metal tin, and we think it offers great sensory fidget fun that will last longer than your child's interest likely will. The Purple Ladybug 3 Slime Putty and the National Geographic Mega Slime Kit & Putty Lab also impressed us during testing for quality with tin containers and accessories for increased fun or versatility.
Fun-factor
We aren't gonna lie, all slime and putty are fun initially, even for grown-ups. The bright colors, gooey feeling, and bright colors intrigue even the most sullen child. In our tests, children liked all of the options at first blush and would certainly like any of them over nothing at all. However, over time, there were standout winners that kids continued to play with over and over, passing by the less interesting or versatile choices in the review.
The Zen Lab DIY Slime Kit was an absolute winner in the book of every tester. This pack has about a dozen different colors of pre-made slime ready for fun and lots of small packets of slime additives like glitter, foam balls, crystals, and tiny toys that kids can combine to create unique slime concoctions. No matter which product we unpacked for testing, kids kept coming back to the Zen Lab as it offered the most variety of tools and accessories, including molds, utensils, and more.
The Purple Ladybug 3 Slime Putty was also a popular choice with three different kinds of putty, including two that changes color and a UV light to facilitate change. Testers liked the waxy feel of the putty and had hours of fun molding and shaping it while investigating how it changed when exposed to light or heat.
The National Geographic Mega Slime Kit & Putty Lab was also a big hit as it includes a larger variety of options to keep kids enthralled, including snotty slime and magnetic putty. There truly is something for everyone in this pack, making it perfect for kids with short attention spans or multiple interests.
While some of the selections in this review have age ranges beginning at 3 years old, we suggest parents use caution and observe or participate with little ones' playtime as some might accidentally or intentionally consume components of the products. Only you know your child and how much supervision they require to avoid putting items in their mouth, but it is well known that younger children often explore the world using their lips and tongue. In addition, given that some of the options are scented, we worry about younger users going in for a "taste." We recommend you remind children that these products should not be put in their mouth, follow all instructions and warnings that come with the products, and wash hands when playtime is done.
Conclusion
Testing slime and putty is a rough and silly job, and after weeks of playing with this lot, we have the smiles, giggles, and tired hands to prove it. While you probably can't go wrong with any products in this review, there were definitely several that our testers couldn't put down, and these standout toys won awards and lots of playtime. All kids love slime, so you might feel compelled to lean toward this option, but we highly recommend giving putty a chance if you haven't before. The putty we tried quickly won the hearts of testers and parents alike. Go for a dual product for twice the fun!
— Wendy Schmitz