Gather the kids and make these cool DIY Bouncy Balls. They are going to have a blast learning how to make a bouncy ball. Even better, they glow in the dark.
DIY Bouncy Balls
All kids love bouncy balls and it also makes a fun science experiment. What could be better than that? Well glowing bouncy balls.
These are so cool and very simple to make. This recipe makes 2 bouncy balls and will provide so much fun. Kid’s will play with these for hours especially since they glow!
Let’s learn how to make bouncy balls.
Your kids will have a blast helping and it’s even more fun that they glow in the dark! It doesn’t seem to matter how old your kids are. Bouncy balls are always fun and even the older kids love them.
I’m pretty sure since they glow in the dark, they will be a hit with everyone.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon borax powder
- 2 tablespoons white school glue
- 2 teaspoons glow in the dark acrylic paint (we used Americana Glow in the Dark Paint)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Watch this video to see how easy it is to make DIY Bouncy Balls.
How to make a bouncy ball:
- Step 1. In a small bowl, add ½ cup of warm water and borax power. Stir until you dissolve the borax or it is almost dissolved.
- Step 2. In a separate small bowl, add glue and paint. Mix together the slimy material well.
- Step 3. Add cornstarch to the borax water and mix the borax solution well. Pour in the glue to the cornstarch mixture. You will see the glue mixture start to harden. It will become a hard glob and not mix well with the borax water.
- Step 4. Knead the glob with your fingers, while in the water, removing any bubbles. Continue to mix thoroughly.
- Step 5. Remove from the water and knead in your hands.
- Step 6. Divide the material in half and shape it into a ball by rolling into your hands. Continue to roll and shape for a significant amount of time.
It will take about 20-30 minutes. The longer the better. Bounce the ball and reshape if necessary.
- Step 7. Enjoy this homemade bouncy ball. It is so fun and a cool science project. This makes 2 super bouncy balls.
How to store bouncy balls?
Store in an airtight container or your ball will dry and crack. You can place the ball inside a plastic bag or container. Either option is great.
How long will homemade bouncy balls last?
The bouncy balls if left for any amount of time will start to flatten. They will go flat due to the type of material used.
Just roll them in your hand and shape the disc back into a ball shape. It is very simple to do and you can easily form the ball again.
Tips for homemade bouncy balls:
- Food coloring. Mix in your favorite color to give the ball a pretty look.
- Glue. You can use glitter glue to change the look and add a fun sparkle. We recommend Elmer’s glue for best results. Generic brands just don’t seem to work as well.
- Play with them to help form the shape. The more you play with these, the better they work! You need to play with them and keep rolling them into a ball frequently. Bounce, roll into ball, bounce, roll into a ball.
The kids can help with this. They will enjoy playing with them and “helping” the glow in the dark balls to take shape. They will flatten a bit if you let them set, so the more you can work them the better. - Store properly. It’s also very important to store the bouncy balls in an airtight bag. This will ensure they last longer for lots of play time.
- Be careful with younger children. Be careful with smaller children. You do not want them to put their hands in their mouth as they are making this. It contains borax and hands should be washed thoroughly once finished.
Make glow in the dark bouncy balls.
It is simple science and a blast to make. Kids can have so much fun with this science activity.
Not only is it fun to make but so much fun to play with too. Everyone will love this fun idea. It is such a cool craft idea and inexpensive to make.
Once you know how easy it is to make bouncy balls, you will want to make them all the time. This is one of the coolest ideas to try.
Print the instructions for DIY Bouncy Balls:
DIY Bouncy Balls
Materials
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon borax powder
- 2 tablespoons white school glue
- 2 teaspoons glow in the dark acrylic paint we used Americana Glow in the Dark Paint
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- In a small bowl add hot water and borax power. Stir until you dissolve the borax(or almost).
- In a separate small bowl, add glue and paint and mix well.
- Add cornstarch to the borax water and mix well. Pour in the glue to the cornstarch mixture. You will see the glue mixture become a hard glob and not mix well with the borax water.
- Knead the glob with your fingers, while in the water, removing any bubbles and mixing thoroughly.
- Remove from the water and knead in your hands.
- Divide the material in half and shape it into a ball by rolling into your hands. Continue to roll and shape for a significant amount of time, I’d say at least 20-30 minutes. The longer the better. Bounce the ball and reshape if necessary.
- Store in an airtight container or your ball will dry and crack.
How long will the balls need to dry until they are ready to use?
They dry while you are rolling and shaping them for 20-30 minutes.
What can we use your n place of borax