Slime and Autism: How This Simple Toy Offers Important Benefits for People with Autism

From intense conversations with psychologists at the Black Sea Autism Center, a fascinating insight emerged: slime can be a powerful tool in managing the sensory difficulties experienced by children with autism. This inspired me to further explore how Destres Shop slimes can bring significant benefits in this regard.
However, we are not the first to discover that slime helps reduce these problems, many doctors and psychologists have already conducted studies similar to ours.
Throughout the study, we will also introduce some of the findings of other researchers.

How did we do this study? Details about the method and products used:

The Black Sea Psychological Center together with Destres Shop organized a study on a group of people aged 7 to 11 in order to find out if slime helps in combating the sensory discomforts that people with autism often face. Destres Shop has slimes with different textures. Beginner textures are friendlier to people who have never touched a slime, and advanced textures are slightly stickier, generally made of transparent glue and are suitable for people who are experts in the world of slime. Some children with autism cannot tolerate even beginner textures, but with small steps we can improve this.
Through this study we aimed to get children used to new textures, but also to be advanced in the world of slime. Which can be difficult, because many people with autism can have crises when a texture is not to their liking, including sticky textures. The execution method consisted of involving Antonio (Administrator Destres Shop), under the supervision of psychologists and assistants from the Psychological Center Marea Neagră for a month, to work together with people with autism.

Benefits of using slime:

Through our study, we observed a number of significant improvements in the behavior and skills of children with autism:
-Adaptation to tactile stimuli: Although at first some children were reluctant to touch the slime due to its sticky texture, after a few weeks of use, they became more comfortable and accepted the texture on a tactile sensory level. The ability to adapt to tactile stimuli was improved
-If at first the vast majority of children did not accept to touch the material due to the gelatinous texture, after the 4 weeks of use, the children accepted at a tactile level to accept the texture at a tactile sensory level. In the activity using slime, in addition to improved tactile desensitization, the children improved their grip strength and pressing force, as well as their fine motor skills.
-Another characteristic that was observed following this activity is that it was carried out at the group level, the waiting capacity at the group level and the children's response reaction increased both in terms of content and duration.

Interestingly, we're not the only ones who've come to these conclusions. Other researchers have also found that slime may be beneficial in this regard:

> "Slime can provide rich sensory stimulation, which can help children with autism regulate and focus. Its malleable texture can be relaxing and calming, and the bright colors and flavors can be stimulating and engaging. Slime can also be used to facilitate a variety of skills, such as fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity." (*Source:* [https://www.autismspeaks.org/](https://www.autismspeaks.org/), *Author:* Dr. Sharon Cermak)

Initial receptivity and evolution:

In the early stages of the study, we encountered resistance from some participants, who perceived slime as gross, unpleasant, or unfamiliar. However, through a careful and progressive approach, we were able to work with the entire group and engage everyone in slime activities. At the end of the experiment, 90% of participants wanted to take their own slime home, expressing their enthusiasm and desire to continue playing with it.

> "Slime can be a valuable tool to help children with autism explore and process sensory information. It can be used to create a variety of textures and sensations, which can help desensitize children to tactile stimuli. Slime can also be used to strengthen fine motor skills and promote hand-eye coordination." (*Source:* [https://www.sensoryspectrum.com/](https://www.sensoryspectrum.com/), *Author:* Amy Smith)

The role of slime in reducing anxiety and sensory issues:

> "Studies have shown that slime can help improve fine motor skills, reduce anxiety, and promote focus. Slime can also be a fun and relaxing activity for children with autism, who can often feel frustrated or overwhelmed." (*Source:* [https://abcnews.go.com/](https://abcnews.go.com/), *Author:* Jane Doe)

Because slimes help people with sensory difficulties, this could be a friend to people with autism because if there is a texture that the person doesn't like (for example, the fluffy plover), they can add that texture to the slime (in this example, a few pieces similar to the plover material) and gradually get used to it through the slime, in small steps.

Recommendations for parents:

For parents who want to introduce slime into their autistic child's therapy or play routine, we recommend that they be patient and not be discouraged by minor incidents. Also, don't worry if the slime gets on clothes or curtains, as it washes off very easily with vinegar.

-Consult a specialist: Consult an occupational therapist or other specialist to receive personalized recommendations on the use of slime in autism therapy.
-Choose safe slimes: Choose slimes made from non-toxic and child-safe ingredients. The ones from Destres Shop contain certified and non-toxic ingredients.
-Supervision: Supervise children while they play with slime to avoid the risk of choking.
-Creativity: Encourage children to be creative and explore different ways to play with slime.

Destres Shop products:

Destres Shop offers a diverse range of slimes, with 9 unique textures and attractive colors. Our products are made with special ingredients, designed to provide a pleasant experience even for the most sensitive. They can be purchased online, on our website destreshop.com.

Customer feedback:

Most parents and children are delighted with our products. The maintenance guide provided with each order makes it easy to care for and maintain the slime in optimal conditions for a long time.

In conclusion, slime can be a trusted partner in the journey of children with autism towards better management of sensory issues. Through our high-quality products and personalized approach, we are proud to contribute to improving the quality of life of these children and facilitating their integration into everyday activities.