There is something fascinating about bubbles that appeals to babies and children, but also to adults. It is an activity that can be done simultaneously with all ages, making it a winner.
MAKING IT HAPPEN
Your starting point is the bubble mixture. You will always need to check with parents whether their child has a skin condition which might be irritated. You can buy commercial bubble mixtures, but you can also make your own with the children. A simple recipe is 300ml water and 50ml washing-up liquid. If you add one teaspoon of liquid glycerine or honey to the mixture, the bubbles will be stronger.
Use a damp cloth to wipe skin and to mop up. Hands should be rinsed if they have touched the mixture.
For babies
This is an early play activity which can help stimulate babies’ vision and tracking while also supporting their social and emotional development.
- Start by blowing bubbles slowly while making eye contact.
- Draw babies’ attention to the bubbles and name them.
- Use words such as ‘more?’ or ‘again?’ if babies show through their body language that they want the bubbles again.
- Model catching the bubbles.
- Encourage babies to catch a bubble: blow close to hands.
For toddlers
Toddlers like to chase the bubbles, but they increasingly want to blow bubbles themselves. It is worth putting the mixture in a bowl on the side to prevent them inadvertently tipping it out as they blow!
- Go outdoors and use large wands that allow bubbles to be formed by waving arms.
- Teach toddlers to blow smaller bubbles by blowing on strips of paper so that they learn to ‘aim their breath’.
- Create wands with a large circle by using pipe cleaners.
- Using different sizes of wands, draw toddlers’ attention to the size and quantities of bubbles.
For three years plus
Children might not have had the chance to explore the properties of bubbles or feel like chemists making up their own concoction.
- Use bubbles outdoors on windy days and draw attention to how the bubbles move.
- Work with children to make wands of different sizes and with different objects, for example metal coat hangers.
- Give each child a funnel and see if they can blow a large bubble.
- All bubbles become spherical – challenge them to blow a different shaped bubble!
- Encourage children over six years old to experiment with making their own bubble mixture by giving them the basic ingredients.
DEVELOPMENTAL BENEFITS
If you make your own bubble mixture, offer the recipe or send a bottle home to encourage parents to build on what you have been doing.
Here are examples of how bubbles may support development:
Babies
- Stimulates vision and ‘tracking’.
- Encourages gross motor movements.
- Supports social enjoyment of play.
- Develops communication skills.
Toddlers
- Encourages co-ordination and fine motor movements.
- Supports concentration and perseverance.
- Develops self-confidence and feelings of competence.
Three years plus
- The same benefits as for toddlers above, plus the activity encourages curiosity, develops problem-solving and helps children feel independent.
Your role
Your role with children will depend very much on their stage of development. With babies, you will need to take the lead by blowing the bubbles and encouraging them to respond. With toddlers, your role will be different again as they will increasingly want to blow bubbles for themselves. This will mean that you will need to guide them until they have gained the skill. Both babies and toddlers need repetition, so make sure that you have allowed enough time for this activity. With older children, your role will become that of a facilitator and also to be a partner in their experiments.
