Orbeez balls are a popular toy that is made from a gel-like material called sodium polyacrylate. This polymer absorbs up to 300 times its weight in water, which gives the balls their squishy texture and makes them fun to touch and play with. Orbeez balls start off as tiny pellets that you can place into water or other liquids and watch as they expand until they reach their full size of one inch in diameter. The main ingredients used to make these colorful orbs include food grade dye, glycerin, propylene glycol, triethanolamine (TEA), methylene chloride, potassium sorbate, ethyl alcohol and preservatives like BHT. While it's safe for children over three years old to play with Orbeez balls since there are no sharp edges or small parts that can be swallowed; parents should monitor young children at all times when playing with them since the materials used could potentially irritate eyes or skin if handled incorrectly