Cornstarch Goop Science Explore

Cornstarch (2 cups)

Water (1 cup)

A large bowl or shallow bin

Food coloring (optional)

A towel or plastic sheet underneath

Pour two cups of cornstarch into a large bowl or shallow bin.

Slowly add one cup of water, stirring as you go, until you get a thick, goopy consistency.

Drop in food coloring if you want a colorful version.

Set the bin on a towel or take it outside — this gets messy.

Show your toddler the magic: squeeze the goop and it's solid. Let go and it drips like liquid.

Encourage them to punch it, poke it, roll it into a ball, and then let it ooze through their fingers.

Drop in small toys or plastic letters for a gooey excavation challenge.

This is a non-Newtonian fluid — it behaves like a solid under pressure and a liquid without it. Your toddler is doing real science.

Cornstarch goop is taste-safe (just unpleasant tasting), so it's fine for toddlers who still mouth things.

Add the water gradually. Too much water and it's just milky liquid. The sweet spot feels like thick cake batter.

If it dries out during play, just sprinkle a little water on top and mix.

Cleanup is easiest if you let the goop dry, then vacuum the powder. Water just spreads it around.