Simple Summer Fun: Bubbles

Bubbles are another fun summer activity that is providing learning opportunities for your child. Your child observes how the bubbles blow and how the wind affects where they go. Your child observes what makes bubbles pop. Your child also gets some great gross motor work in when chasing bubbles, and can get fine motor work in while blowing bubbles.

I once saw a great addition on the show Curious George. George wanted to blow bubbles using different shapes--for example, a slotted spatula. When he blew them, they of course didn't blow into rectangles, triangles, or squares, but circles. So if you want to work some science shape learning in, you can try that.

 

Oh, and if you start to get light headed from all of the bubble blowing, I seriously love this thing. My sister gave it to Kaitlyn as a birthday gift over a year ago. It is nice to have my breath back :) Plus, the kids love to blow bubbles with it and I get to take pictures! There are lots of Bubble Blowers out there.

 

DIY Bubbles

Bubbles always tend to be very messy around here. Though bubble solution isn't generally expensive, it's always nice to know how to whip up a batch when needed. Certainly saves a trip to the store!

Carefully mix ingredients:
1 cup Dawn or Joy detergent
10 cups Distilled water (you can try tap water first to see if it'll do okay. Mine was fine.)
1/4 cup Glycerin or White Karo syrup

(Of course you could always cut the recipe in half or whatever your needs may be).

Then look around for things you can use as wands. Some ideas:

• clean flyswatters
• sour cream/yogurt lids w/ holes
• pipe cleaners
• cookie cutters
• slotted spoons or spatula
• coat hangers (wire)
• make a circle w/ your thumb and pointer finger, dip it in the solution!