Can you think of an activity that captures the attention of children of all ages? Or one that can be a fun energy-burning undertaking, a science experiment, a leisurely way to pass the time, and a neat sensory fun project? Give up? It’s playing with BUBBLES! Creative Team member, full-time traveling mama of two, Katie Fox, shares everything you will ever want to know about exploring bubbles with kids. Scroll down and get the very best bubble recipes, fun bubble activities, and games, silly bubble jokes, how to make different bubble wands, ways to use bubbles for art, and so much more!
Exploring bubbles with kids
You probably already know this, but bubbles are a fun and engaging activity that kids (and adults) love. Watching them float up and away on a breezy day, chasing them in an effort to pop them, and learning that soap causes these delightful floating orbs are all part of childhood.
Without a doubt, bubbles are fun and exciting. But they are also so much more! Bubbles are an activity that enables science learning, artistic exploration, a lot of movement, and DIY projects. Indeed, there is so much more to bubbles than meets the eye (I don’t recommend getting bubble solution in the eye though, ouch). Below you will find so many different ways to explore bubbles with your children. Let’s get started!
Photo Credit: @suzugarintonaru
Benefits of bubbles
Yes, bubbles are fun, but they’re also good for you! The act of playing with and exploring bubbles with kids is actually quite beneficial for both a child’s mind and body. Below are just a few ways that playing with bubbles is valuable to you and your children.
- Gross motor development. Your children are building their gross motor skills as run, jump, balance, skip, chase, reach, crawl, and otherwise engage with the bubbles.
- Fine motor development. As your littles grab bubble wands or help build their own wands and bubble blowers, they are working on fine motor development.
- Hand-eye coordination. Following the bubbles and then reaching out and actually popping one is a skill and it takes practice to get it right. Bubbles help children practice hand-eye coordination in a fun pop-tastic way.
- Sensory exploration. Bubbles offer a chance to explore new sensory input. That’s right, the sticky, slimy, soap-tasting, orbs allow children to explore their senses.
- Building social skills. If your child has ever popped bubbles with another living creature, it may not have ended well. Children need time and practice to learn to share and popping bubbles offers the perfect practice setting. If a bubble your child is chasing is popped by another child, you can easily redirect them to the many other bubbles floating around. It probably isn’t that easy (and when is it ever?), you can keep at it and know that playing in the same bubble popping zone still provides social skill building – even if it ends in crying.
Photo Credit: @mistyhofert
Bubble solution recipes
There are so many different ways to make bubbles. Obviously, the tried and true method of using plain ol’ dish soap and water is there for a reason. It works, it’s easy, and parents already have those items on hand. But, if you are looking for a different way to make bubbles with your kids, look no further. Here are some of the best bubble solution recipes for making bubbles with kids.
- Basic bubble recipe: Home Science Tools shares an easy bubble recipe to make with your children. Because it includes glycerin, the bubbles are stronger than simple dish soap and water.
- Colorful bubble foam recipe: Instead of making bubbles you can blow, give this amazing foaming bubble recipe from Fun at Home with Kids a try.
- Glow in the dark bubble recipe: Looking for a new way to explore bubbles with kids? This glow-in-the-dark bubble recipe from Growing a Jeweled Rose is a perfect way to wow your kids with bubbles in a whole new way.
- Colorful bubble recipe: How about colorful bubbles? Use this Mama Plus One recipe for creating bubbles in a variety of colors. You could make black and orange bubbles to enjoy during Halloween or each color of the rainbow and then try to get all seven colors in the air at the same time.
- Reusable slime bubble recipe: This is not exactly a bubble, but this slime bubble recipe from Little Bins for Little Hands is fantastic for making large reusable bubbles.
- Pre-made bubbles: Don’t want to mess with making your own bubble solution? You can purchase premade bubble solution at nearly any retail store that sells toys. We recommend Bubble Tree Sustainable bubble refills that come in a recyclable box since it cuts out all the plastic that bubble solutions usually come in. Or this giant bubble mix concentrate, which is great for blowing huge bubbles, has less plastic, and allows you to make an enormous amount of bubble solution!
Photo Credit: @maryammorrison
Photo Credit: @thesewildwilliamses
Bubble activities and games
Playing with bubbles is a ton of fun. There is no need to go beyond the basics of blowing and chasing, but kids also love variety. So if you want to find new ways to explore bubbles, below are a few great ways to do just that!
- Create giant bubbles. Making bubbles that are large and in charge is always a hit. Happy Hooligans shares how to make giant bubbles with straws and string.
- Count how many bubbles you can pop. This is a simple and fun way to add a little something more to chasing bubbles and popping them. Plus, if you have a young child that needs to work on counting, it’s a great way to throw in some learning through play.
- Blow bubbles using your hands. Don’t have a bubble wand or want to try different ways to blow bubbles? How about using your hands to blow bubbles with this helpful guide from Housing a Forest.
- Chase all the bubbles. This is a classic and likely completely instinctual activity. If you have older kids, have them help you blow bubbles for the younger kids. Younger kids love chasing bubbles and this activity is likely to keep them occupied for quite a while. There are also automatic bubble blowers, which come highly recommended by parents of kids who can play this game indefinitely.
- Stand inside a giant bubble. Have you ever stood inside a bubble or wanted to? This article from No Biggie will walk you through how to make a giant bubble you can stand in!
Photo Credit: @travelling_balloon
Photo Credit: @karenayon__
Even more bubble fun and games
- Blow bubbles with bubble gum. This is a skill most children desire to learn and what better time than now! This is an activity you can practice while out on walks or while on a road trip. Bubble gum totally counts as exploring bubbles.
- Make scented bubbles. This is a neat way to add another sensory element to exploring bubbles with kids. Add a variety of scents to your bubble fun with this post from Momma’s Fun World.
- Try to catch the bubbles. This is a classic game and one that is not as easy as it seems. Make sure to dip your hands in the bubble solution to make catching the bubble without popping it easier. You can also make this activity more difficult by using bubble wands, spoons, and other items to try and catch the bubbles.
- Rainbow bubble snakes. This activity from Housing a Forest looks like a blast and creates a really neat continuous line of bubble foam. This is a perfect activity and could probably even be done indoors (like in the bathtub) on a rainy day.
- Play bubble hide and seek. This game is played almost exactly like the original, except the person who is it blows bubbles whenever they find a hidden player. The newly found players join the “it” person and also blow bubbles each time they find a hidden player.
- Freeze a bubble. This is the perfect summer (and maybe even winter) activity to do with kids. It is always fun to explore ice and making a frozen bubble with this Fireflies and Mudpies guide is sure to be a hit.
- Take a bubble bath. Can’t get outside? No worries, exploring bubbles can happen in the bathtub too! You can add food coloring to the water to make the experience colorful and even experiment with different types of soaps to see which bubbles are the biggest. If you wanted to take a bubble bath outside, try filling up a kiddie pool and adding some soap.
Photo Credit: @theresaspector_photography
Photo Credit: @bella_rose_visualartist
Bubble science experiments
Let’s not forget that adding soap to water and seeing what happens is technically a science experiment! With that in mind, bubbles offer a variety of different science experiments. Not only will your children (and maybe even you) be learning, but you’ll also be engaged in even more bubble fun with your kids.
- Make a bubble inside a bubble. Steve Spangler Science shares a neat and easy-to-follow tutorial on making a bubble inside a bubble.
- Create a square bubble. Usually, bubbles are spheres, right? Well, Science Sparks shares how you can make square bubbles and it is worth trying at least once.
- Test what you can use to blow bubbles. This one is fun and walks you right through the whole making a hypothesis and testing the theory aspects of science. Gather some household items (spatulas, whisks, etc.) and nature items and see which items work best for blowing and making bubbles.
- Bouncing a bubble. Looking for a little fun, some learning, and a lot of laughs? See if you can bounce a bubble following this Little Bins for Little Hands tutorial.
- Baking soda and bubbles. See what happens when you mix baking soda and bubbles together with this Imagination Tree tutorial.
Photo Credit: @tbarfield_nine29photography
Photo Credit: @christinehosleyphoto
Make your own bubble wands and blowers
Using plastic store-bought bubble wands and blowers is great and obviously creates hours of fun. But, trying new things is fun too. Here are a few ways to use items you may have around the house to make your very own bubble wands and blowers.
- Pool noodle bubble blower. Do you have a pool noodle that has seen better days? Consider cutting it up and using this Cut Out and Keep tutorial for making your own pool noodle bubble blower.
- Pipe cleaner bubble wands. If you have some pipe cleaners lying around, consider twisting one end into a circle and leaving the other side straight to make a handle. Bam, you just made a simple and effective bubble blower.
- Giant bubble wand. Puddle Wonderful Learning shares all about making a giant bubble wand and this DIY project is pretty darn easy too.
- Bubble shooter made with straws. Straws are not great for the environment, but we see them every day. If you have some lying around or can collect (and clean) the plastic straws you are given at restaurants, you can create this neat straw bubble shooter from Kids Activity Blog.
- Recycled plastic water bottle bubble blower. Here is another way to reuse plastics that are otherwise thrown away. Hello Wonderful walks you through how to make a plastic bottle bubble blower.
- Repurposed cardboard tube bubble blower. If you have toilet paper tubes or paper towel cardboard tubes lying around, this Happy Hooligans easy tutorial is the perfect way to use cardboard tubes for blowing bubbles with kids.
- Bubble snake using a sock. Is that missing sock basket getting full? Need to find a way to repurpose those socks that lost their mate? Babysavers shows you how to make a bubble snake using a sock.
- Use a fly swatter. This is a simple option that is perfect for younger kids. The tiny holes in the fly swatter make for a lot of really neat bubbles and the long handle, large bubble surface, and the need to swing the fly swatter to make bubbles make it a fun and easy option.
Photo Credit: @islaandquill
Photo credit: @sara_mccarty
Bubble art for kids
Bubbles are not only for science and games. In fact, there are even ways to use bubbles to make art. Here are a couple of options for you and your little humans to try.
- Bubble painting with tempera paint. If you have tempera paint, this Typically Simple bubble painting activity is a great way to use it.
- Painting with food coloring and bubbles. This Living Well Mom bubble painting activity uses food coloring in the bubbles for a beautiful outcome.
- Use a foaming hand soap pump to paint. Have a foaming soap pump lying around? You will definitely want to give this A Little Pinch of Perfect foaming soap pump bubble painting activity a try.
- Making bubble prints. Using a straw, a cup, and some colorful bubbles, try this bubble print art activity from Happiness is Homemade.
Photo Credit: @ps.myfamily
Bubble jokes for kids
We can all use a little more laughter in our lives, right? Without a doubt, one great way to round out any bubble activity with kids than to share some silly jokes with them?!
Q: Why did the bubbles cross the road?
A: Their Pop was waiting on the other side.
Q: What did the bubble say to the North Wind?
A: Nothing, he was just blown away.
Q: What’s a bubble’s favorite snack?
A: A pop-sicle.
Q: What did the kid bubble say to the dad bubble?
A: Hey, Pop!
Q: What do you call James Bond in a bathtub?
A: Bubble 07.
Q: What do you call bubble music?
A: Pop.
Bubble books for kids
If you are like me, books are always something to enjoy with your kids. And when it comes to bubbles, it turns out there are a ton to choose from! Here are a few wonderful options you can share with your kids before, during, and after your bubble fun.
- Big Bad Bubble by Adam Rubin
- Bubble Babies: Celebrating Diversity, Inclusivity, and Connection Building for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers by Stephanie Seidler
- Curly’s Fun with Bubbles by Sherry Boddie
- Pop! By Jason Cartor Eaton
- Bubble Kisses by Vanessa Williams
- Donkeys Can’t Take Bubble Baths!: A Hilariously Silly Story about Being Open-Minded and Trying New Things By Pragya Tomar
- The Monster in the Bubble: A Children’s Book about Change by Andi Green
- Bubble Riding: A Relaxation Story by Lori Lite
- Pop! A Book About Bubbles by Kimberly Bradley
Photo credit: @sara_mccarty
How are you exploring bubbles with your kids?
About the author
Katie lives in a tiny home on wheels and travels full-time with her two mostly wild children, tech-minded partner, two well-traveled pups, and adopted pet snails. As they wander the North American continent, Katie explores as much as possible, with a particular fondness for the adventures her family enjoys in state and national parks. When not trekking through the outdoors, Katie enjoys baking, homeschooling, consuming mochas from local coffee shops across the continent, practicing her photography skills, and soaking up as much knowledge as she can.
As an advocate for families exploring the great outdoors, Katie co-founded a Hike it Baby branch in her hometown in Northern California and tries to encourage families to get outside whenever possible. Katie has a Master’s degree in human development from the University of Missouri, Columbia, but her passion is really history and humanities (which is coincidentally what her Bachelor’s degrees are in). She currently volunteers on the Hike it Baby National team as a contributing blogger.
You can find more from Katie online in the following locations:
Instagram: @familyinwanderland
Website: www.familyinwanderland.com
Facebook: @familyinwanderland
RWMC posts: Katie Fox