Bubble play for kids

Safety first

Bubble liquid is not a drink, and it can sting eyes. If any gets in an eye, rinse with clean water and tell a grown-up straight away. If irritation continues, get medical advice. A grown-up should mix the liquid, keep it in a closed container out of reach, and stay close the whole time. Do not blow through straws toward the mouth: keep straws out of the game and use wands instead. Wet floors and paving become slippery, so play on grass or a surface that is easy to wipe, and mop up spills at once. Do not use the mixture on carpets or wood floors. Keep sticks pointing down and away from faces. Some children have sensitive skin, eczema or an allergy to soap, so check first and wash hands after play. Wear a hat and take shade breaks in the sun. Stay away from water edges unless a grown-up is right beside you. Age hints are only a guide.

1. Mix the bubble liquid

Age hint: 3 and up to watch, with a grown-up doing the mixing.

Bring: a clean jug or bowl, a spoon, washing-up liquid, water, and a wide shallow tray or lidded container for dipping. Label the container so nobody mistakes it for a drink.

1. A grown-up pours some water into the jug.
2. The grown-up adds a little washing-up liquid.
3. Stir slowly so you do not make lots of froth.
4. Pour it into the tray and keep the lid on the rest.

Notice: Does stirring slowly or quickly change how much froth you get?

2. Straw-free bubble wands

Age hint: 3 and up, with a grown-up shaping the wands.

Bring: pipe cleaners, or a plastic lid from a tub with the middle cut out, and scissors for the grown-up only.

1. A grown-up bends a pipe cleaner into a loop, a heart or a star, twisting the ends together.
2. Fold any sharp ends over and tuck them inside the handle so nothing pokes.
3. For a lid wand, a grown-up cuts out the centre and smooths the edge.
4. Dip the wand flat in the tray, lift it out and wave it slowly.

Notice: Which shape makes the biggest bubbles, and do the bubbles come out round whatever shape the wand is?

3. Giant bubble on a string

Age hint: 5 and up, with a grown-up holding one stick.

Bring: two light sticks or garden canes, a loop of string about as long as your arm span, and a wide shallow tray of liquid.

1. Tie the string loop to the two sticks. A grown-up checks the knots.
2. Hold the sticks with the tips pointing down and away from faces.
3. Dip the string in the tray, then lift the sticks apart slowly and walk backward a few steps.
4. Close the sticks together to let the bubble go.

Notice: What happens if you move quickly, and what if you wait for a gentle breeze?

4. Bubble catching

Age hint: 3 and up.

Bring: a soft cloth or a clean gloved hand, and a wand.

1. A grown-up blows or waves a wand to make a few bubbles.
2. Put on a glove or hold a soft cloth in one hand.
3. Try to catch a bubble gently without popping it.
4. Swap places so each child has a turn.

Notice: Does a bubble last longer on a glove or on a cloth?

5. Popping race with claps

Age hint: 3 and up.

Bring: a wand and a flat open space, preferably grass.

1. A grown-up waves a wand to send bubbles into the air.
2. Children clap each bubble before it reaches the ground.
3. Count how many each person pops in one minute.
4. Take turns so everybody gets a go at making and popping. Walk, never run, on slippery ground.

Notice: How did your clap change when the bubble was small or big, high or low?

6. Bubble-print painting

Age hint: 4 and up, with a grown-up mixing the colour.

Bring: a bowl, bubble liquid, a few drops of food-safe colouring, a wand and some paper on a tray. Wear old clothes, as colouring can stain.

1. A grown-up stirs a few drops of food-safe colouring into a small bowl of bubble liquid.
2. Lay the paper flat on a tray outdoors or on an easy-to-wipe floor.
3. Dip the wand and wave it so coloured bubbles land on the paper.
4. Let the bubbles pop on their own and look at the rings they leave. Leave the paper to dry.

Notice: What shapes do the popped bubbles leave, and how do two colours look next to each other?

How this page differs from water play

Our water play activities are written without soap, using plain water in a shallow tub or by the sink. This page is about soapy bubbles, which need extra care because the liquid stings eyes and makes surfaces slippery. See also colour mixing activities.

More to do on Rangooo

Run about with outdoor games for kids, try easy science activities, browse more stories and activities, or see resources for teachers.

Questions

Is bubble liquid safe for children?

Bubble liquid is not a drink and can sting eyes. A grown-up should mix it, keep it in a closed container out of reach, and stay close during play. If any gets in an eye, rinse with clean water and tell a grown-up. If irritation continues, get medical advice.

Why do you leave out straws?

Blowing through a straw can pull the liquid toward the mouth, and it is not for drinking. Wands keep the liquid away from faces. Wave a wand through the air instead.

Where is the best place to play with bubbles?

Outdoors on a patch of grass, or on a balcony or bathroom floor that is easy to wipe. Wipe up spills at once, avoid carpets and wood floors, and keep away from water edges unless a grown-up is right beside you.

What age are these ideas for?

Most suit roughly three to seven years with a grown-up close by. Catching and popping races suit the youngest. The giant bubble and bubble prints suit slightly older children, but you know your child best.