Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Prepare orbeez from the store
• Method 2 of 2: Make your own Orbeez
• Tips
• Warnings

Have you seen the commercial for Orbeez and would you like to give them a try? Orbeez are balls to play with made of highly absorbent polymers. At first they are tiny balls smaller than grains of rice, but when you soak them in water they grow into balls that are slightly larger than peas. There is also an edible version of this product that you can make yourself at home using natural ingredients. These balls, also called water pearls, have a soft texture and can absorb large amounts of water. This variant is a good choice for young children.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Prepare orbeez from the store

1. Buy Orbeez in the store. You should be able to buy Orbeez at all major toy stores and department stores. You can also buy them from a webshop in toy items. Orbeez are available in a lot of different colors. You may want to try a pack of a color Orbeez, but many people enjoy mixing different colors together.
   • You can use Orbeez in different colors for multi-person games or art projects.
2. Open a pack of Orbeez. Cut the package open with scissors, being careful not to drop the tiny Orbeez on the floor.
   • The Orbeez should look like large grains of colored salt.
3. Put the Orbeez in a container with 250 ml of cold tap water. You will not immediately see anything change. Do not worry. It will take a while for the Orbeez to get bigger.
   • If your Orbeez are not completely round, you may not have used enough water or you may have to wait for the balls to absorb more water.
   • Use pure water to make your Orbeez grow bigger. With distilled water you get the best results.
4. Wait 4 to 6 hours for the Orbeez to fully grow. If you wait long enough, they will grow 100 to 300 times larger than they were originally, with a maximum diameter of 14 millimeters.
   • If your Orbeez are not yet big enough but you are running out of water, feel free to pour some more water into the container. It is okay if you put too much water in the container.
5. Drain the water. Some extra water may have remained at the bottom of the tank you used for the Orbeez. Drain the water from the container so you don't spill it when you play with the balls.
6. Play with your Orbeez. Let them roll through your fingers. People like the soft balls to the touch. There are a lot of other things you can do with Orbeez. Here are some suggestions:
   • Take them outside and have a bouncing match with a friend. See how high you can bounce them.
   • Play mini boules, where you and your friends try to roll the Orbeez as close as possible to a specific ball. It's like playing marbles. Each team can use a different color Orbeez and take turns trying to roll Orbeez to the ball in question.
   • Try to hit a target with Orbeez. Play with a friend and use different colored balls. Draw a target on a piece of paper and take turns rolling a ball in the center of the target.
   • Play croquet with your friends. You can fold pieces of paper over or use paper clips to create gates for your playing field.
   • Create an obstacle course for Orbeez, like miniature golf. Challenge your friends to get the Orbeez through the obstacles in as few turns as possible.
   • Use Orbeez in different colors to play classic games like marbles and star halma.
7. Store the Orbeez in an airtight container. When you have finished playing, put the balls in a box with a lid. This will keep the Orbeez good for a week.
   • Don't worry if your Orbeez dries out. Soak them again in water to make sure they get as good as new again.
   • Do the Orbeez smell musty or moldy? That's probably because you didn't use distilled water. Try to use distilled water and discard the Orbeez if they still smell like mold.
8. Dispose of the Orbeez in the trash or use them in your garden. If you are fed up with the Orbeez or they have started to go moldy, then it is time to throw them out. Orbeez are not suitable for throwing down the drain, so do not flush them through there. Instead, dispose of them in the trash or put them in the soil of your potted plants to make sure the soil retains moisture.
   • Orbeez were originally intended to slowly moisten soil so that plants gradually got water. They ensure that soil retains moisture and that the plants you have in your house receive water. If you put them in the soil, you don't have to water your houseplants as often.

Method 2 of 2: Make your own Orbeez

1. Buy dried basil seeds or dried tapioca pearls. You should be able to get both at most supermarkets. If you can't find them, you can try it at a local shop. Tokos often sell less expensive variants that are cheaper than the real Orbeez.
   • With basil seeds you get very small gelatinous water pearls. Basil seeds are hard at first, black in color and about the size of rice grains. They will grow when they absorb water. Because they are so small, it is less dangerous for small children to swallow them.
   • Tapioca pearls are usually small, round and white or whitish in color. They have a diameter of one to eight millimeters.
   • Your homemade water pearls consist of natural ingredients, so they can be eaten just fine. Make sure children wash their hands before playing or eating them so that the balls are clean.
2. Soak the basil seeds in water. Place the seeds in a container, but make sure the container is large enough for the water pearls to expand.
   • You don't have to worry about the amount of water you add. Make sure to add at least four times the amount of water you have seeds. If there is still water in the tray when the seeds have reached their maximum size, you can simply drain the water.
   • Add a few drops of food coloring to the water. You can also add a teaspoon of drinking powder or a natural food coloring, such as beet juice to turn pink or turmeric to turn yellow.
   • Let the seeds absorb the water until you find them large enough. It will take at least several hours for the seeds to reach their maximum size.
3. Boil the tapioca pearls in water according to the directions on the package. Cooking the pearls will make them grow into gelatinous balls.
   • Allow the tapioca pearls to cool completely after cooking.
   • You can color the pearls just like the basil seeds with food coloring, drinking powder or other coloring agents.
4. Play with the water pearls. The water pearls stimulate the senses of young children. Just put the water pearls in a container and let your kids play with them by rolling them between their fingers.
   • Some of the above games are not suitable for your homemade water pearls. Starch can dry up and leave a gluey trail, so keep that in mind when playing games with your homemade water pearls. You can try the following:
     • Make a work of art from your colored water pearls.
     • Wash your hands before playing with the pearls and then use them as a treat in your own bubble tea.
     • Play star halma with water pearls in different colors.
     • Play bingo, using the water pearls to cover the squares of the numbers that have been announced.
5. Keep the edible water pearls in the refrigerator. The water pearls, like most foods, will spoil or germinate if you don't cover them or keep them for too long.
6. Let the water pearls dry out after you have finished playing. You should be able to use them again later if you let them dry out before they spoil.
   • Place the water pearls on a baking tray and let them dry out at room temperature. On a sunny day, you could even place the baking tray outside in the sun to let the pearls dry.

Tips

• Some people say you can make your own water pearls from ingredients from the kitchen. This is a fun science experiment to try with your kids, but most attempts have been unsuccessful.
• Add a pinch of salt to the water you soak your Orbeez in. The salt will make them last longer, but your Orbeez may be slightly smaller in size.
• Don't let your pets and small children eat Orbeez as it can make them very sick. Only allow small children to play with the balls under adult supervision.

Warnings

• Orbeez bounce, so be careful not to drop them or knock them over.
• Don't eat the Orbeez. They are not poisonous, but not intended to be eaten. If you ingest a large amount of Orbeez, see a doctor.