All About Bubbles
What are the benefits of playing with bubbles?
Visual tracking skills
Did you know that bubbles are a great way to help your little one with visual tracking skills. Visual tracking skills develop over time, and bubbles can help them learn this skill. Point and track with your baby and toddler. Join in on the fun.
Hand-eye and foot-eye coordination
Popping bubbles is the best part of making bubbles. You can use a whole hand, clapping, a pointer finder, or fist OR you can stop on the bubbles. These movements can form the building blocks of catching and kicking!
Speech and language skills
The opportunities for speech and language with bubble play are ENDLESS. You can comment on the texture of the bubbles (i.e. sticky and wet) or the way they look (i.e. shiny, pretty, big). You can also use a huge variety of verbs like pop, stomp, poke, splash, etc. And you can never use enough exclamatory phrases like ‘WHOA’ or ‘WOW.’ Remember, you are your little ones best example. Give them lots of words to use during play.
Body awareness
Use bubbles and language to teach your child body awareness. Say things like, ‘The bubble is near my ear.’ or ‘Pop the bubble with your finger.’ Knowing where their body is in space is a foundational skill. Bubbles can help with this too!
Spatial awareness and directionality
Up, down, around, under, on: these are all words that we can use when playing with bubbles. For example, blow them up in the air and say, “Look I’m blowing them up high.'“
How to make your own bubbles.
You’ll need:
1 cup of water
1 table spoon (Tbs) of gylcerin
1/4 cup of natural, biodegradable dish detergent
Then just mix them together in a bowl or cup and get your wand ready!!!!
5 Bubble Activities for Kids
1) Bubble Paint Monsters
Add a little food coloring to your bubbles. they blow the bubbles onto white paper or canvas. Once dried, add some google eyes, or other decoration. Viola! You have colorful bubble monsters
2) Bubble Blower
A great activity for older kids, you’ll need bubbles, a plastic or paper cup and a straw. First, cut a hole in the bottom of the cup for your straw. Place your straw in the cup, dip the top of the cup in bubbles and BLOW.
3) Bubbles Shooter Wand
You’ll need straws and a rubber band. Place the straws in a bundle and secure with the rubber band (or tape). Dip the straw tip in bubbles, and you’ve got your self a bubble shooter.
4) Bubble Animal Bath
Incorporate some other toys in your bubble play. Get some plastic animals and a washcloth and blow bubbles on your animals then ‘wash’ them off. It’s a great way to incorporate language in your play.
5) Freezing Bubbles
We are including this one because it’s fun AND it’s cold outside right now. Microwave your bubble solution after adding some food coloring. Blow the bubbles outside in below freezing temperatures, and leave them for a few seconds. The bubbles will be hard and cold to touch!
And don’t forget Mister Clay has free worksheets related to bubbles here: All About Bubbles
SAFETY NOTE: Make sure all bubbles caps and wands are large and can not be swallowed by your toddler. Also, use non-toxic bubbles mixtures. And NEVER leave your baby or toddler unattended with any toy or activity, even bubbles!
