Summer: BUBBLES!

This week is all about bubbles! Blowing bubbles is one of my favorite ways to ring in the warmer spring and summer weather; it's like a mini-celebration for the brighter days ahead! Let's jump into what this week has to offer:

Suggested Book List-Try to find these at your local library!

• The Bubble Book by Elizabeth Ember

• Big Bad Bubble by Adam Rubin

• Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy

Activities

Big Bubbly Box- Sprouts (ages 2-5) Paint a box using colored bubble solution and a straw!

Materials

• Small plastic food containers (one per color)

• Bubble solution

• Food Coloring in various colors

• Straws

• Rubber bands

• Large cardboard box

Prep

1. Fill each container about halfway with bubble solution and then stir in about 10 drops of food coloring per container.

2. Bundle up 3-5 straws using a rubber band to hold them together. Make one bundle for each color.

3. Find a spot outside to place the large cardboard box upside down and place the containers and straws nearby

Steps

1. Invite your child to blow colorful bubbles all over the box by dipping the ends of the straws into the solution and blowing through the other end towards the box.

2. Use this as an opportunity to talk about colors! Call out a color and have your child pop that colored bubble. See what happens when you blow two different colored bubbles next to each other and pop them! Will they make a new color?

3. Allow for plenty of time to create and then let the box dry in the sun. When the box is dry, you can turn it into a playhouse, doll-house, or toy garage by cutting windows and doors for your child to play with!

(Bonning-Gould et al., 2019)

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Unbreakable Bubbles -Blossoms (ages 5-9): See what you can do with a bubble solution that lasts longer and grows bigger than your average solution. Feel free to use this as an opportunity for your child to create this on his/her own!

Materials (yields about 4.5 cups of solution)

• 3 cups of water

• 1 cup liquid dishwashing detergent (i.e Dawn, Joy, etc.)

• 1/2 cup white corn syrup

Prep

1. Mix the ingredients together in a large bowl or baking pan. The wider the mouth of the container, the easier it will be to dip larger bubble wands into.

Steps

1. This bubble solution is strong AND sticky! Make sure this is done outside. Experiment with different objects to make bubbles with, like these ideas:

   • Bubble Forcefield: You will need to double the recipe, at the least. Use a kiddie pool and hula hoop to make a giant bubble you can stand in! Pour the solution you made into a kiddie pool. Place a hula hoop in it and stand in the middle. Gently and slowly pull the hula hoop up as high as you can, creating a "forcefield" around you!

   • Square Bubbles- Using straws or pipe cleaners, create different 3-D shapes and turn them into bubbles.

   • Bubble Snakes- Create long bubble snakes using socks and plastic soda bottles.

(Anne Marie Helmenstine, 2020)

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Outdoor Adventure Bucket List

***PLEASE REMEMBER to modify these for your child's age and always do with adult supervision and permission!***

• Jump in the water- At a pool or a lake, challenge yourself to jump in where your feet don't touch! Please make sure age-appropriate precautions are taken (i.e. wear a life jacket, have a trusted adult available to assist young children)

• Pitch a Tent- Try your best to set up a small tent by yourself or with a friend. For younger kids or those without a tent, make your own!

• Play Catch- Grab a ball and a partner and head outside!

(Tornio et al., 2013)

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Sources

Anne Marie Helmenstine, P. D. (2020, February 11). 2 Recipes for Giant Bubbles That Don't Pop. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/bubbles-that-dont-pop-recipe-603922.

Bonning-Gould, K., & Rosenberg, N. S. (2019). In The outdoor toddler activity book: 100+ fun early learning activities for outside play (p. 124). essay, Rockridge Press.

Tornio, S., Keffer, K., & Riordan, R. (2013). In The kids' outdoor adventure book: 448 great things to do in nature before you grow up (pp. 51–52). essay, Falcon Guides.