B is for Bubbles

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People of all ages are fascinated with soap bubbles. The most exciting bubbles are the ones we blow for enjoyment outdoors on a beautiful day with bubble pipes or wands. The most common bubbles are those we see floating in the kitchen sink or bathtub—yet they're almost irresistible to little ones eager to plunge their hands into bubbly water.

Bubbles can be a wonderful way to interest your young child in soapy science while still having a delightfully fun sensory experience together. You'll need lots of soap for these bubble creations, and you can make your own bubble solution very economically.

Recipe for Bubble Solution

• 6 cups water
• 2 cups clear dishwashing liquid (Joy or Dawn)
• ¼ cup glycerine

Combine and stir all ingredients. Let the bubble solution settle at least four hours. Bubbles are best after 24 hours.

When mixing up a batch of bubble mix, keep in mind that there are several surefire bubble bursters—dirt and other bubbles. Try to make sure that the containers you use are very clean. Avoid stirring or shaking too much or too quickly as that can cause suds. Bubbles tend to like cold air, but sometimes there is not much you can do about that.

Bubble Blowing Tools

Once you've mixed up your bubble solution, you're ready to experiment with a variety of tools to create bubbles. See who can make the biggest and smallest bubbles, and whose bubble will float away the furthest. Find out what happens if you blow forcefully or softly. Get creative and try these objects for blowing fun—you're on your way to becoming bubble blowing experts!

• Drinking straws
• Funnels
• Cookie cutters
• Rubber bands
• Tin cans with both ends cut off (be sure there are no sharp edges)
• Piece of tubing
• Plastic holder from soda pack with six openings
• Piece of string formed into a loop
• Thread spools (dip one end, blow out the other end)