Forever blowing bubbles

I’ve loved seeing all the bubble photos and play over the last few weeks, and fancied getting the bubbles out at home.  Obviously if your toddler goes to any birthday party, then you’re bound to have a bottle of bubbles around the house.

We have several, but N’s still a bit rubbish at blowing bubbles.  I think it’s a matter of him thinking he’s blowing bubbles like at swimming, so puts his mouth actually into the bubble wand.  Then he’s also not good at pulling the wand out the bottle without spilling everything, not having any bubble mix on the wand, and then holding it in totally the wrong place so he can’t blow into the right place.  Drives me mad, as to me it seems quite straightforward.  Obviously being a 3 year old, there’s no way he’ll let me help.

So, I decided it was time to get something that he could use to make bubbles.  Cue a trip to Wilkinsons (love that place for cheap outdoor toys!), and a debate on bubble machines.  I decided to go for a bubble gun (cheapskate!), and a couple of wands (bargain 2 for £2 I think they were).  My theory was that N could waft them around and hopefully get on better with those.  Didn’t quite work out.

We usually go out quite early at weekends, whether it’s to do chores or just because N wants to get out and see what’s going on in the farmyard, so it was a perfect time to get the bubbles out.

Needless to say, although he was excited about having a bubble wand, he still didn’t grasp the idea that you didn’t just shake it and bang it around fast to get bubbles out.  I tried to teach him just to walk holding it, or to move it, arms outstretched, slowly from left to right.  Nope, he still didn’t get it.  Just jiggled it in a way that all the bubble mix just dribbled away without any bubbles.

So it all fell down to me to create bubbles while he ran around chasing them.  What’s brilliant, is that he’s now understanding to watch the bubbles and follow them, rather than just standing gormlessly waiting for them to come to him.  Hopefully he might be getting closer to catching balls and being more aware that you need to watch those and move to them too….lazy child, waiting for them to come to him!

I loved watching him play and stretch, stomp and laugh.  Taking photos while wafting bubbles is definitely something to be practiced.  I think next time, we’ll have to get the bubble gun out as then I’ll hopefully get some better shots, and will be able to move round so he’s facing me.

I’d also love to try and make giant bubbles.  I’ve found a few tutorials on Pinterest, so I’m looking forward to trying those sometime..

He would be so impressed with that, and I reckon even the older nephews and niece would love a go too.  Maybe in readiness for the next big family meal?

How do your children get on with blowing bubbles?  Have you tried making giant bubbles?