We remember the days of chasing bubbles around the yard without a care in the world. What makes bubbles so magical for kids of all ages?
Bubbles are not just fun, they are also an important part of a child’s development. According to Sensory Lifestyle, an online resource to teach parents evidence-based play techniques, bubbles provide a benefit for several different aspects in development. Blowing and chasing bubbles assists with both fine and gross motor skills, oral motor skills, visual tracking, hand eye coordination and a tactile experience. Bubbles also encourage kids to be active while they chase the bubbles that blow away and jump to catch them. When blowing bubbles with a parent or friend, it also encourages communication and dialogue. And we thought they were just fun to pop!
Check out these ideas for making bubbles both fun and educational!
- Count the bubbles.
- Make bubble wands in different shapes.
- Create bubble wands out of different household items and get creative! (pipe cleaners, toilet paper rolls, etc.)
- Practice body part recognition by popping bubbles with your elbow, your ear, your head!
- Have kids help create the bubble solution and use math skills to measure.
- Ask kids to hypothesize how far the bubbles will travel or which bubble will go the furthest.
- Give instructions such as “pop the largest bubble” or “pop 3 small bubbles.”
- Observe and describe the colors seen within the bubbles.
- Test how bubbles respond to blowing softly versus vigorously. Have your child hypothesize first, then test the theory!
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