This oobleck stress ball feels SO COOL! We had a great time learning how to make oobleck last year, and this stress ball version offers all the fun without the mess. Simply fill a balloon with cornstarch and water to make this DIY craft that’s great for relieving tension!
When you squeeze the ball hard, the oobleck stress ball feels a bit similar to a flour stress ball. But if you gently poke at it or let it sit in your hand you can really experience the unique oobleck texture. It’s such a cool experience, and a really easy activity that kids can do on their own!
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission which helps us run this website.
How to Make an Oobleck Stress Ball
Materials:
- 1 Balloon (12 inch size)
- 1/3 cup Cornstarch
- 3 Tablespoons Water
Check Out The Video Tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Prepare the balloon
- Blow up the balloon, and then let it deflate to stretch out the latex/rubber. This makes it easier to fill!
- Insert a funnel into the neck of the balloon.
Step 3: Add cornstarch and water to the balloon
- Add the cornstarch into the funnel.
- Cornstarch doesn't like going through the funnel, so you may need to use a pen or stir stick to poke it through.You can also add one small spoonful at a time and shake it down.
- Once all the cornstarch is in the balloon, pour in the water.
- It might take a minute for the water to fully absorb into the cornstarch and go through the funnel.To help with this, pinch the neck of the balloon then push it down into the cornstarch to make more room for the water.
Step 4: Tie the balloon closed
- Squeeze out as much air as possible and tie the balloon into a knot, close to the cornstarch and water.
- Knead the balloon until the cornstarch and water are fully mixed.
- Trim off the balloon neck, cutting just above the knot. (optional)
- Your oobleck stress ball is complete!Squeeze it and knead it to feel the super fun texture!
What is oobleck?
Oobleck is a combination of cornstarch and water. It’s a non-Newtonian fluid that becomes a solid when you press on it and a liquid when you let it flow on its own.
For a detailed recipe, and more information on oobleck (including the science behind it), check out our How to Make Oobleck post!
How long does an oobleck stress ball last?
Our stress ball lasted for about 5 days before the water dried out and the stress ball became really hard to knead.
If my balloon breaks, is oobleck hard to clean up?
Oobleck is actually really simple to clean up! The wet oobleck can be scooped into a bowl and thrown out. Leave the rest of the mess to dry, if possible, and it will become a powder that can easily be swept or vacuumed up.
What size balloon works best to make an oobleck stress ball?
We use regular 12 inch balloons from the dollar store to make our stress balls. (It should say right on the balloon package what size they are.) Smaller balloons won’t hold the same amount of oobleck, and because they’re so much smaller, they’re harder to squeeze.
What else can you put in a DIY stress ball?
Making your own stress ball is SO FUN, and there are a ton of different items you can add into stress balls to give them a fun and unique texture. Water beads have an amazing squishiness to them, so the Orbeez stress balls we made are one of our favourites!
And did you know you can make a playdough stress ball?! So cool! But you can also make stress balls with every day pantry ingredients like rice or flour.
Kids will have fun guessing if the balloon is filled with a liquid or a solid. Stress balls are such a fun way to relieve anxiety, and this oobleck stress ball is like a stress reliever and a science experiment in one fun package!
Here’s even more fun craft ideas:
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon |  Barnes and Noble |  Books- A- Million |  Indiebound |  Indigo |  Amazon Canada
Let us know what you think: