Local girl conducting slime-making fundraiser

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Having dyslexia, 10-year-old Kailey Lawson of Seymour often struggles in the classroom.

By the end of the day, she is mentally exhausted and can’t even begin to think about tackling her homework that night.

When she gets home, she needs something to help calm her mind and work out her stress and frustrations first.

That’s where slime comes in — yes, ooey, gooey globs of slime.

Kailey has discovered a passion for making and playing with slime that has led to her own YouTube video channel and a presence on other social media outlets such as Facebook and Instagram.

She loves to show other kids how to make slime using glue, food coloring, shaving cream and an activator such as Borax and water or contact solution and baking soda. She shares recipes for making different types of slime, including scented, fluffy, crunchy, textured and glittery.

It’s an activity she enjoys doing with her friends and one which her mom and stepdad, Belinda and Travis Davis, support and encourage.

Knowing her mom was busy running a day care, Kailey would have to find a way to keep herself busy and entertained until the other kids left for the day. That’s when she would go off on her own to watch YouTube slime videos on her phone.

“It started last spring,” Belinda said. “She would come home after school, and that would be her outlet. It was her stress relief. It has just grown from there. Kids don’t stay outside and play anymore like they used to, so this is an activity that allows her to be creative and make something, and she loves it.”

Kailey keeps gallons of glue at home and has more containers of her homemade slime than she can count.

With slime, she doesn’t have to worry about answering a question wrong, misspelling a word or messing up on a math problem, Belinda said.

“It’s a really good thing for kids with sensory issues, too,” she said.

Knowing how much slime helps her with stress and anxiety, Kailey decided other kids could benefit from it, too, so in October, she started KK’s Slime Shop to make and sell her slime.

“I think everyone needs a little slime,” she said.

On Sunday, she is having her first big public slime-making event, Slime-A-Palooza. From 2 to 4 p.m., people are invited to join KK’s Slime Shop at Confetti — The Social Venue, 357 Tanger Blvd., Suite 214, Seymour, for a unique slime experience.

If the event goes well, they are planning to do another one in January or February, Belinda said.

“I want to teach people how to make slime,” Kailey said. “It’s really popular right now. Lots of kids are into it. I just love making it and feeling it.”

Another great thing about slime is that it’s not messy for kids to play with, Belinda said.

Chelsea Burrell, co-owner of Confetti, said they had planned to have a slime event even before Kailey and her mom contacted her.

“We’ve had several events out here and are always thinking of ways to engage children and families,” Burrell said. “So this was perfect timing.”

For $15, children can learn how to make their own sensory fluffy slime and will be able to take their finished slime home with them. There will be a choice between three different kinds of slime to make, including bubblegum, Hulk and a peppermint or snow Christmas slime.

Admission, which includes all of the ingredients, can be paid at the door or by signing up on the Slime-A-Palooza Facebook event page.

Proceeds will help cover Kailey’s cost for putting on the event, and remaining funds will be used to help sponsor a child for Christmas, Belinda said.

Kailey’s slime also is available for purchase at SENSEational Kids, 357 Tanger Blvd., Suite 202, or through KK’s Slime Shop Facebook page.

Belinda said the next big step is to sell Kailey’s slime on Etsy.

“I’m a business owner myself, but she came up with the whole thing on her own, and that’s what she wants to do,” Davis said.

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What: KK’s Slime Shop’s Slime-A-Palooza

When: 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Confetti — The Social Venue, 357 Tanger Blvd., Suite 214, Seymour

Cost: $15 can be paid at the door or online through the Slime-A-Palooza Facebook event page

Information: Call Belinda Davis at 812-525-1019 or visit the KK’s Slime Shop Facebook page

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