Make Your Own Slime with So Slime DIY Cosmic Slime Shakers

Like most kids his age, Freddy is obsessed with slime! We have tried numerous times to make our own using detergent and PVA glue, but have never had much success, ending up with nothing more than a sticky mess and sore hands. So when he was offered the chance to try out the So Slime DIY Slime Shakers from Canal Toys, we were hoping for a good result, and we were not disappointed.

The Slime Shakers give a safe and fool-proof DIY method of making your own cosmic slime by simply adding water to the sachet of slime powder in the shaker pots. You shake the pot (with the lid on!) for 30 seconds, wait for five minutes and then the slime is ready to play with. It's as easy as that.

The Cosmic Slime Shakers make a metallic purple, greeny-blue and pink pot of slime. Each can have glitter or confetti added for extra sparkle. Each pot also includes a little surprise figurine such as a cat, mermaid, unicorn, cloud or star, which can be added into the mix. There are three other fun and imaginative designs in the Slime Shakers range; Rainbow, Creepy and Insect each with their own unique colours, decorations and characters. So whatever your child is into, there is a style of slime to suit them.

The slime can be kept in its colour coordinated pot to keep it fresh and clean. The slimes and figurines can be combined for colourful cosmic effects and extra fun.

The So Slime DIY Slime Shakers are a great rainy day activity for families with children aged 6 and over. The DIY element adds extra educational play value to the product. Freddy could follow the instructions and make the slime, adding the powder, glitter and water up to the measuring line on the pot, then shaking it vigorously. He was pretty pleased with the results knowing that he had done it himself. Once made it can be stretched, oozed, squeezed and played with, for hours of slime-filled fun. 

The 3 pack Slime Shakers are £9.99. The fact that it is safe for kids, is made easily using just water and is mess free keeps everyone happy. The So Slime range is recommended for children aged six and over. The So Slime DIY products are available in UK stores now and include the DIY Slime Shakers, DIY Case and DIY factory. 

Move Over Water Pistols, Here Comes the Slime Blaster!

Zimpli Kids, the creators of Gelli Baff and Slime Baff  that transform water into slime or goo, have a brand new product that is perfect for the summer. Set to revolutionise the classic seasonal water fight, the Slime Blaster is a pump action gun that shoots slime at your opponents, adding a brand new weapon to your arsenal. It's fun, it's messy and it's brilliant!

The Slime Blaster uses a 100% safe Slime formula, and can shoot a blast of slime up to 7 metres. Simply fill up the water tank with water, add the slime powder sachet, shake and wait 5 minutes to create the slime then get ready to fire.

Each Slime Blaster comes with 12 x slime blaster sachets giving 200+ slime shots. That's plenty of slime action for an exciting outdoor slime fight.

The gun itself is funky with its white, orange and green design. The water tank unscrews easily from the end of the blaster to fill it up. The Slime Blaster water tank comes with a cap so you can secure it while waiting for your slime to develop. The pump action works well and fires the slime a good distance. We all really like the Slime Blaster as it brings a very unique and novel twist to the traditional water fight concept.

The slime rinses out from clothes and washes off skin easily and is completely safe and non-irritant. The Slime Blaster is recommended for children aged 5 and over. Slime sachet refills are available to buy separately once you've used up the supply that comes with the Slime Blaster.

The Slime Blaster is available from stockists such as Tesco and Amazon. (I have found  them currently on offer at  just £13.50 at Tesco Direct so it's worth searching for a good price.)

The Slime Blaster is definitely going to be a summer favourite for us this year!

Engaging Teens and Helping Shape their Future with the National Citizen Service

My daughter Kezia is going to be sixteen years old this year. My youngest daughter is all grown up. Life is a whirlwind of homework, friends, concerts, YouTube, make-up tutorials, playing music on vinyl, vegan snacks, Snapchat and shopping trips. 

She is fast approaching the time when she has some big decisions to make with regards to her future post-16 options - whether she chooses to do A'Levels at college with a view to going on to university, or if she opts for a more vocational course and an apprenticeship. Whatever she chooses to do, I'll be there to support her and encourage her every step of the way, hoping that I've helped her develop the tools needed to thrive in the big wide world.

There is one decision that I hope she decides upon that will help her to shape her future and grow as an individual at this important time in her life. The National Citizenship Service is a once in a lifetime opportunity for 16 - 17 year olds to take part in a 3 - 4 week experience that helps build confidence and self belief, giving teens a taste of living away from home, developing important skills and meeting new people. This would be a great opportunity for Kezia to do something challenging while embarking on a journey of self discovery that could really help her to grow as a person. As well as the fun and adventure involved in taking part, participation in NCS will also look good on a UCAS personal statement or CV.

NCS is a government backed programme established in 2011 open to 16 and 17 year-olds across England and Northern Ireland, to help create a more cohesive and engaged society and helping to tackle some of our country's biggest social challenges. The two to four week programme takes place in the school summer holidays, and includes outdoor team-building exercises, a residential for learning essential life skills, a community-based social action project and an end of programme celebration event.

By bringing together young people from different backgrounds for a unique shared experience, NCS helps them to become better individuals, and in turn better citizens. These Generation Z teenagers have the power to change the world for the better. They are tomorrow's adults; our future leaders and influencers and could prove to be an unstoppable force!

The NCS programme puts young people through a series of challenging activities to take them out of their comfort zone and develop their strength of character and leadership skills. They are given the chance to really connect with their communities through social action, organising events or raising money for local charities. This year more than 100, 000 16 - 17 year olds will be taking part in the scheme. The benefits of the NCS is great, not just to the teenagers who take part, but to their communities and to society as a whole. Investing in our young people is an investment in our country's future. For every £1 spent, the NCS summer programme in 2016 delivered up to £2.42 of benefits back to society.

This opportunity is a chance for teens to do something really worthwhile over the long summer holidays. As a parent, I think this is definitely worth pitching to my teenager as it will be way more rewarding to her than lazing in bed until midday throughout the whole of August! I hope she'll say yes to NCS.

NCS is amazing value for money. The whole experience including food, accommodation and travel costs just £50, which is an incredible bargain when you think of what your child can gain from taking part.  (Bursaries are available on a case by case basis and support is also provided for young people with additional needs.) Even if you have commitments over the summer, you can register for further details and NCS will try to find a spot for all interested teens at a time that suits.

There are still places available for Year 11s to take part in this once in a lifetime opportunity this summer. To sign up now, go to the NCS website using this link: www.ncsyes.co.uk.