It's been a bouncy kind of day! My son loves balls, soccer balls, rugby balls, tennis balls, you name it. So when I said to him "let's make our own ball", he was overwhelmed with interest and very keen to start the process. So, I gathered the ingredients which I previously looked up on line and we entered or laboratory, aka "the garden". This is a fun activity for kids of all ages, but best to be cautious with younger kids who might try to eat the materials.

All images by @sweetpea

While this bouncing ball is not as hardy as the ones you'd buy in the shops, it still is quite bouncy and quite impressive! My boy was thrilled with it too!

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN BOUNCING BALL

To make your own ball full of fun you will need just a few simple ingredients:

• 1 TBS Borax (can be bought in the laundry section at most grocery stores)
• 2 TBS white glue
• 1 TBS Corn Startch
• Half a cup of warm water
• Food colouring (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add the Borax to the cup of warm water and stir.
2. In a separate dish, mix glue, food coloring and corn starch. Mix together.
3. Once your glue mixture has turned into a blue sticky blob, plop it into your Borax and water solution. 
4. Leave it in this solution for 10 seconds, or until the blob starts to harden. 
5. Remove your blob and roll it until a rubbery ball is formed.

LITTLE DUDE PLAYING WITH HIS BALL

THE SCIENCE BIT

This activity demonstrates an interesting chemical reaction, primarily between the borax and the glue. The borax acts as a “cross-linker” to the polymer molecules in the glue – basically it creates chains of molecules that stay together when you pick them up. The cornstarch helps to bind the molecules together so that they hold their shape better. - https://sciencebob.com/make-your-own-bouncy-ball/

Out of all of the science experiments and sensory activities I have done with my son so far this one is by far one of his favorites, I think mostly because he was left with a new toy at the end of it! This activity has left us with half a box of corn starch left over, so get ready for more "food science" activities - we're having a BALL of a time!

Much love - @sweetpea

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