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Christmas

Holiday Scented Christmas Tree Slime

By Sharla Kostelyk

When we made our original stretchy Christmas Tree Slime, the kids enjoyed it, but were wishing they could have slime that actually looked like a Christmas Tree and count be “decorated”. This holiday scented Christmas tree slime is just what they were looking for! Holiday Scented Christmas Tree Slime Recipe #slime #christmasslime #holidayslime #slimerecipeThis holiday scented Christmas tree slime allows kids to use their imaginations as they “decorate” the tree. It also provides tactile, visual, olfactory (scent), and proprioceptive sensory feedback.

Holiday Scented Christmas Tree Slime Recipe:

  • 5 oz. clear glue
  • 1/2 cup water
  • green candy colour (you can also use food colouring or paint if you prefer)
  • pine essential oil
  • green glitter
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 Tbsp contact solution
  • pom poms

Instructions:

  1. In a bowl, pour 5 oz. of clear glue.
  2. Add 1/2 cup of water. Mix until the glue has broken up and is incorporated into the water. I use warm water for this so that it mixes more easily.
  3. Add a few drops of green candy color, mixing until you get the perfect Christmas tree colour.
  4. Add a drop or two of pine essential oil.
  5. Sprinkle in your glitter. I used a mix of chunky and fine glitter. Stir everything together.
  6. Mix in 1/2 tsp. baking soda. The baking soda will help determine your slime’s thickness.
  7. Mix in 1 Tbsp of contact solution. Be sure that your contact solution contains boric acid. Contact solution determines the stickiness of the slime. The slime will be ready to knead when it pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
  8. Knead the slime. At first, it will be sticky. Just keep kneading it! If you have to, you can add a little bit more contact solution, but be careful not to over-activate it by adding too much.
  9. Add some multi-colour pompoms as the “ornaments” on the tree.
  10. Be sure to store the slime in an airtight container.

During the holidays, it can be even more important to have sensory play activities around. When kids aren’t doing their regular routine, they can have a harder time self-regulating. Ensuring that they are receiving plenty of sensory input, particularly the type that provides proprioceptive feedback can help them to regulate.

With kids not only being out of routine, but also not receiving as much natural sensory input at school or out in the community, you will need to provide many opportunities for them. Holiday themed sensory play is an easy way to do that.

Here are some other holiday sensory play ideas:

Melted Snowman Sensory Bottle

O Holy Night Sensory Bin

Simple Christmas Sensory Bag

Stretchy Christmas Tree Slime

Christmas Gifts Sensory Bin

Peppermint Scented Christmas Playdough

Filed Under: Christmas, Sensory Tagged With: sensory play, slime

How To Make Stretchy Slime

an almost opaque white slime with red round confetti and bright green tree shaped confetti is seen held in a hand with only the thumb visible

By Sharla Kostelyk

It’s always the time of year for cool slime. Christmas time is no exception. That’s why we love this stretchy slime recipe with a Christmas tree holiday theme. It’s a fun slime and easy to make. Stretchy Slime #sensoryplay #slimerecipes #slime #holidayslime #Christmasslime

Stretchy slime makes a great gift for your child to give their friends or for you to give your nieces and nephews. You can either give them the completed slime in an airtight container or print the recipe for them and gift them the supplies. Kids love things they can make themselves!

You can easily change out the Christmas trees for another type of festive confetti to create other versions of holiday slime. Consider using confetti shapes like candy canes, ornaments, snowflakes, reindeer, gingerbread, or stockings.

You can find some wonderful Christmas themed confetti at the dollar store.

Stretchy Slime Recipe

You Will Need:

  • 1 cup of clear glue (I find that Elmer’s washable clear school glue works best)
  • 2-3 Tbsp. contact lens saline solution*
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • Christmas tree confetti
  • optional: other confetti such as red for added colour

*Be sure that you use a buffered contact lens saline solution.

How To Make Stretchy Slime

  1.  Pour the glue into a large mixing bowl and add the baking soda.
  2. Begin to add the contact lens solution a few drops at a time as you stir.
  3. When you find that the mixture begins to pull away from the bowl, knead by hand.
  4. Add the confetti sprinkles in and fold them in. Continue kneading.

stretchy slime

Stretchy Slime

The best stretchy slime is made more by feel than by recipe. If you find that your slime is too sticky, add a few more drops of the saline solution. If it’s not sticky enough, you can add a drop or two more of the glue. Play around with it until you get the consistency you’re going for.

Some people prefer their slime to be a bit more sticky and others hate the sticky feeling. Understanding that everyone has different sensory preferences, feel free to adjust the recipe to your preference.

This holiday slime recipe makes a super stretchy slime.  Part of the fun for kids is seeing how far their slime can stretch.

stretchy slime

Fun Slime

Making this Christmas tree stretchy slime is a perfect  activity for that time in between the last day of school before the holidays and Christmas. Kids tend to be brimming with extra energy and excitement during that time.

Giving them good sensory play opportunities can help them regulate their emotions and remain more calm. The pulling and stretching and kneading of this stretchy slime gives kids what’s called proprioception feedback.  Proprioception is excellent for helping kids self-regulate.

While the kids think that they are just trying out a cool slime recipe, you’ll be able to see the effects that the sensory play has on their mood and behaviour. The kids will be happy with their slime and their parents will be happy with more calm in the house. That’s what I can a win-win!

Need more sensory play ideas for calm kids? 

Grab your copy of 25+ easy to make recipes. >>> SENSORY RECIPES

Includes cool slimes, ooblecks, playdoughs, cloud doughs, kinetic sand, and more, all in one handy guide.

 

Click here for more fun slime ideas:

Unique Types of Slime

Cool Slime Recipes

Milky Slime Recipe

Cool Spider Slime

Halloween Slime

Peppermint Slime

Glow In The Dark Glitter Slime

 

Filed Under: Christmas, Sensory Tagged With: sensory play, slime

The Best Christmas Slime Recipes

a collage of 7 Christmas themed slimes and the words "The Best Christmas Slime Recipes"

By Sharla Kostelyk

Looking for unique Christmas slime recipes? We’ve got you covered! Thanks to years of experience (aka as the mom of 7, including 3 slime-obsessed girls!), I know what makes a good slime. These recipes make the cut. The Best Christmas Slime Recipes around #slime #slimerecipes #Christmasslime #sensoryplaySlime makes a great gift. You can either give the homemade slime in a container topped with a bow or festive cookie cutter on ribbon or create a kit with slime ingredients and recipes.

Elmer's Washable School GlueElmer’s Washable School GlueElmer's Washable School GlueElmer's Washable Translucent Color GlueElmer’s Washable Translucent Color GlueElmer's Washable Translucent Color GlueElmer's Liquid Glitter GlueElmer’s Liquid Glitter GlueElmer's Liquid Glitter GlueEquate Saline SolutionEquate Saline SolutionEquate Saline SolutionPurex Sta-Flo Liquid StarchPurex Sta-Flo Liquid StarchPurex Sta-Flo Liquid StarchArm & Hammer Baking SodaArm & Hammer Baking SodaArm & Hammer Baking Soda

Christmas Slime Recipes:

The holiday scented Christmas tree slime provides olfactory sensory input as well as tactile, visual, and proprioception. Plus, it’s just darn good fun to get the “decorate the tree”!

Our Stretchy Christmas Tree Holiday Slime is a great basic slime that’s easy to create variations for. Plus, it’s super stretchy!

I like to add an olfactory (smell) sensory element into our slimes when I can like with this Peppermint Scented Ribbon Slime.

This Jingle Bell Slime was one of our first ever attempts at making slime and it was obviously a big hit because my kids have been slime crazy ever since!

I love the simplicity of this Holiday Slime from Teaching Mama.

I’ve mentioned how I like scented slime, right?! This Glittery Gingerbread one on Natural Beach Living looks awesome!

How fun is this Grinch Slime from I Heart Arts & Crafts?!

For a pretty slime, I like the Snowflake Slime at There’s Just One Mommy.

Check out the Glitter Glue Slime for Christmas at The Best Ideas for Kids.

This Elf Snot over at Down Redbud Drive is a unique twist on slime and a fun gift idea.

The Melted Snowman Slime from Little Bins for Little Hands would make an adorable gift.

My girls would go nuts over this Sugar Plum Fairy Glittery Christmas Slime on No Time for Flashcards. It would make a great gift or party favor.

For a unique gift idea, consider this edible glitter snowman slime or edible chocolate reindeer slime from Kimspired DIY. They both use empty K-cups, so they make a great re-use project too.

More Christmas Slime Recipes:

Candy Cane Fluffy Slime Recipe from Little Bins with Little Hands

How the Grinch Stole Christmas Slime at Schooling a Monkey

Candy Cane Slime Recipe on The Best Ideas for Kids

Santa Suit Slime from Schooling Active Monkeys

Christmas Slime from The Typical Mom

Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts and Activities, Sensory

Peppermint Scented Slime Recipe

By Sharla Kostelyk

I’ve been wanting to try to make a scented slime for awhile now. This peppermint scented slime is just the kind I was hoping to make. Peppermint Scented Slime #slimerecipes #sensoryplay #sensoryactivities #sensoryprocessingexplained

Slime is already such an intense sensory experience. It engages the visual, tactile and proprioception sensory systems. Adding scent to it engages the olfactory sense as well.

Be aware that peppermint is an alerting scent, so this is not a good pre-bedtime activity! Alerting scents can be extremely useful though.

If you find that your child is in a state of their “engine running low”, an alerting scent combined with the proprioceptive input of playing with slime can “wake” them up. This can help them maintain attention and be more engaged. 

Peppermint Scented Slime:

  • 16 oz. Elmer’s washable school glue
  • 1 cup liquid starch
  • 3-5 drops of peppermint essential oil
  • lime green acrylic paint
  • raspberry pink acrylic paint
  • light pink acrylic paint

Mix together the white glue and drops of peppermint essential oil in a large bowl. Add the liquid starch slowly, a bit at a time and stir as you add. When it starts to pull away from the sides, divide it in equal parts into three smaller bowls.

In one bowl, stir in a few squirts of the green paint. In another bowl, stir in a few quirts of the darker pink paint. In the last bowl, mix in the lighter pink paint. Knead each one separately until it becomes the consistency of slime.

The cool thing is that if you set the colours next to each other in thin strips, it looks like peppermint ribbon candy! Just a little note to add: once you start playing with all three colours together, they will eventually mix. The colours don’t stay magically separated!

When not in use, store the slime(s) in airtight containers or sealed bags at room temperature.

Check out these other scented sensory play activities:

Calming Lavender Scented Bubble Recipe 

Peppermint Scented Christmas Playdough 

Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts and Activities, Sensory Tagged With: sensory play, slime

Simple Christmas Sensory Bag

By Sharla Kostelyk

This simple Christmas sensory bag was literally made with items from my craft bin. My daughter wanted a holiday themed sensory bag to include in her Christmas Calm Down Kit. I grabbed a medium sized resealable bag, threw in some things from the craft box, sealed it, and gave it to my daughter. It was so easy to make.

This simple Christmas Sensory Bag makes a delightful scrunching sound when squished. #sensorybag #sensoryactivities #sensoryWhat I like about this particular sensory bag is that it makes a scrunchy sound when you squish it. It also has a few different textures in the bag so it offers tactile, visual and auditory sensory experiences.

Simple Christmas Sensory Bag:

Materials needed:

  • medium sized resealable bag
  • Christmas coloured crinkly paper shreds
  • green sparkly pompoms
  • felt snowflakes

To assemble this Christmas sensory bag, open the resealable bag, fill it half to three quarters full with the coloured paper shreds and then add the other items. Remove the excess air from the bag and seal.

You could also add jingle bells, Christmas foam shapes, dry rice, red and green beads, pieces of holiday coloured pipe cleaner, scraps of tissue paper, or holiday confetti shapes. This is one of those projects where you can just rummage through your craft supplies and add anything.Depending on the age and ability of the child who is using this, you may want to use duct tape to firm up the seal so that they can’t open it and pull out the contents which could be choking hazards for younger kids. You can finds all kinds of Christmasy duct tape to make it look more festive. Of course, as with all sensory activities, adult supervision should be used.

Get 175 sensory activity ideas in convenient printable lists which are ideal for using in the home, classroom or in a therapeutic setting.

Christmas Ornaments Sensory Bag

I-Spy Christmas Sensory Bag

Filed Under: Christmas, Sensory Tagged With: sensory bags, sensory play

Christmas Calm Down Kit for Kids

By Sharla Kostelyk

The holidays can be an especially hard time for kids who struggle with anxiety, sensory issues or special needs. As a parent, it can even seem as though your child is sabotaging the holidays. For times when some of our kids struggle with handling big emotions, we have a calm down kit for them to use. It has made such a difference. One of our daughters was beginning to struggle more than usual because of the Christmas season so I decided to make her this Christmas Calm Down Kit.

This Christmas Calm Down Kit is full of suggestions and tools to help lower your child's anxiety over the holidays. #parenting #specialneedsparenting #anxietyAnti-anxiety kits help kids feel more in control of their emotions and reactions. I find that it’s best to clarify how the kit works and explain all the tools when your child is already calm. Introduce them to the holiday calm down kit and explain how each item can be used when they start to feel anxious. Reassure them that if one item doesn’t work, they can try another until they find the one that’s right for them at that time.

All of the items and ideas should be practised ahead of time. Offer encouragement and praise, but avoid the temptation to suggest which coping strategy they should use unless you see an escalation in their anxiety or it becomes obvious that they need your direction.

Remember that when your child is in a state of fight, flight or freeze, it becomes harder for them to access the reasoning part of their brain.

Our Christmas Calm Down Kit:

  • Christmas book
  • red marble fidget
  • homemade sensory ball using a Christmas balloon
  • Christmas glow sticks
  • homemade gingerbread playdough
  • candy canes
  • hot chocolate packets
  • jingle bells
  • Christmas calm down bottle
  • holiday themed sensory bag
  • bubble gum
  • printed Christmas colouring pages and markers

I created printable cards that can serve as reminders of some of her calm down tools. You can print the cards, cut them out, hole punch them and put them on a binder ring. You can also cut some extra and create your own if you have other ideas of calm down strategies that work well for your child.

Get your free printable Christmas Calm Down cards here. 

Most of the calm down cards don’t require much explanation, but to talk to your kids how to “belly breathe like Santa”, have them imagine Santa’s big belly and then breathe in to fill their belly like Santa’s. Have them put their hand on their stomach so that they can feel it fill up with air and then deflate when they exhale.

Other Items for Your Christmas Calm Down Kit:

  • noise cancelling headphones (perfect for loud holiday events)
  • Christmas punch balloons
  • Conair Sound Therapy machine (we have one included in our regular Anti-Anxiety kit and love it)
  • homemade Peppermint Essential Oil Playdough (keep in mind that peppermint is an alerting scent)
  • Rescue Remedy for Kids (natural stress relief drops that seem to really help our daughter if they are given at the beginning of her anxiety episode)
  • Rescue Remedy Gum (full disclosure – some of our kids love it and others hate the taste)
  • palm massager
  • books on expressing feelings (our list is here)
  • Christmas kaleidoscope
  • a fuzzy Christmas blanket
  • special stuffed animal
  • weighted neck roll
  • holiday coloured pinwheel
  • small plastic snowglobe (will act in a similar way to a calm down bottle)
  • Christmas tree shaped chewie

I actually had to help my daughter use her Christmas calm down kit earlier tonight. I found it ironic that I knew I would be writing about this later and was putting it to good use right beforehand. When I write about these kind of things, rest assured that it is coming from first-hand, up-close-and-personal experience!

The calm down strategy that worked especially well for my daughter tonight was humming a Christmas carol. She was having a hard time regulating her breathing and behaviour before that, but her crying stopped, her breathing slowed and she was able to start calming herself after trying that visual prompt idea.

The humming provides a lot of natural calming benefits. Humming regulates breathing which lowers your heart rate. It helps to activate the parasympathetic nervous system which also lowers heart rate. It helps you to feel more peaceful as your thoughts become clearer. Humming also releases endorphins, which makes you feel happier. It makes sense that it helped her get back to a more regulated state.

You may also want to read:

Our regular Calm Down Kit (and printable relaxation prompts)

Printable Planner and Tracker for Moms of Special Needs Kids

Parenting a Child Who Sabotages the Holidays

Filed Under: Christmas, Special Needs Parenting

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