Topics
Guide topics
The pages of this guide are arranged under four topics. The first explains what kind of material you are actually holding. The second covers how to keep it from drying out or getting dirty and how to avoid marks on furniture. The third is about children: age, small parts and magnets. The fourth is about what to do with putty and how to choose it as a gift.
The words "plasticine", "slime" and "thinking putty" are often used as if they mean the same thing. In fact they are different materials that need different care: what is good for one can harm another.
The guide covers the questions that parents, teachers and adults who simply like squeezing something in their hands actually run into. Topics that call for a doctor or a chemist are mentioned, but not explored in detail.
Materials
How thinking putty, classic plasticine, slime and kinetic sand differ, and why each has its own character.
- What is thinking putty
Where the material came from, how it reacts to slow and sudden pressure, and its main varieties.
- Glossary of properties
Viscoelasticity, flow, bounce and the other words used to describe moulding materials.
- Where the colours come from (in Russian)
Pigments, pearlescent effects, colour-changing and glow additives, and why colours fade over time.
Care and storage
How to keep putty clean and springy, where to store it and what to do about stains on fabric.
- Storage and cleaning step by step
A detailed practical article: from choosing a place for the tin to knowing when it's time to let the putty go.
- Five steps against a stain
A short routine on the home page: chill it, lift off the bulk, remove the rest without solvents.
- Questions about care
What to do if putty has turned sticky, picked up pet hair or got stuck in a carpet.
Safety
The age on the pack, the "not in the mouth" rule, small parts and extra caution with magnetic putty.
- Children and safety: Q&A
Short answers about age, supervision, magnets and when to call your local emergency number straight away.
- Labels in plain words
What the age marking, the conformity mark and the warnings on a toy's packaging mean.
- A child's first putty
A collection of pages for parents choosing a moulding material for a child for the first time.
Activities and gifts
Ideas for games and modelling, plus tips on choosing a small gift without shop recommendations.
- Activities for children and adults (in Russian)
Modelling, simple games, sensory boxes and calm hands-on activities, with no grand promises.
- A gift for colleagues (in Russian)
How to choose a small gift for a team and what to avoid if the recipients have children.
- A family evening collection
A reading path for anyone planning an evening of modelling and games with their children.
Related reading
- Practical
How to store and clean thinking putty so it lasts, plus a catalogue of practical articles.
- Questions
Short answers about material properties, stains on fabric and child safety.
- What is putty
What thinking putty is made of, why it flows one moment and bounces the next, and how to look after it.
Sources and basis of this text
- TR CU 008/2011 «On the safety of toys» (Eurasian Customs Union regulation, in force in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan; other countries have their own toy-safety rules)
- Manufacturers' instructions and labelling for moulding putties (general principles)
- Materials on the safety of children's toys (general principles)
Ingredients, labelling and manufacturers' recommendations change over time, so the instructions and markings on the pack of the specific product are always your main guide. This reference explains general principles and does not replace a doctor's advice if something goes wrong.