Although bubbles and soap solution are sold as toys, they can be made at home, so still count as play with non-toy stuff. Does your child play with bubbles?
Usually done outside, blowing bubbles is a magical activity. There are many recipes for making bubble solutions easily and inexpensively. Bubble wands can be simple plastic sticks with one loop on the end, or more elaborate ones with hearts, stars, flowers, butterflies, and other shapes. Home-made wands could be as simple as a circle bent at the end of a pipe cleaner or irregular ones of sticks and string for making giant bubbles. Whatever kids use will still create shimmering rainbow spheres dancing all around.
Blowing bubbles doesn’t look hard to do, after all, it’s just air, but it takes brain power. Kids have to figure out just how much force they need because neither too soft nor too hard will work. This takes concentration and patience as well as trying, adapting, and trying some more. Kids are engaged in testing, problem-solving, observing, and other thinking skills.
Blowing bubbles doesn’t look hard to do, after all, it’s just air, but it takes brain power. Kids have to figure out just how much force they need because neither too soft nor too hard will work. This takes concentration and patience as well as trying, adapting, and trying some more. Kids are engaged in testing, problem-solving, observing, and other thinking skills.
Wands that kids wave around are easier but blowing makes the bubbles grow where kids can see them. The focusing on bubbles is very similar to that needed for reading, so blowing bubbles is pre-training for eyes. And for talking, because the movements for blowing bubbles exercises the muscles used in speaking. There’s a sense of accomplishment when a child successfully creates bubbles and we might hear the proud exclamation, “I did it.” Kids can’t see their breath but they certainly see the results.
A young child might like to play with bubbles happily all alone or with friends. When someone else blows them, it’s fun to run around chasing the bubbles, trying to catch or pop them.
No matter how many times kids play with bubbles, it’s fun to do it again and again. It’s often an experiment in high school. Blowing bubbles doesn’t just appeals to kids of different ages, but adults too. Could it be because we all appreciate the beauty and wonder of bubbles?