Bubbles in my Bath,   bubbles in my sink,

Bubbles in my head sometimes when I think.

I even like blowing bubbles in my drink,

I’m a number one fan of bubbles.

Bubbles in the air, bubbles everywhere,

Little bitty bubbles, there’s plenty to share.

BIG rolly bubbles, as big as a bear,

I’m a number one fan of bubbles.

Yes, I am a number one fan of bubbles, and that is why I wrote this song for my children years ago.  Bubbles are magical wherever you may find or create them.   No doubt, bubbles are fascinating, especially for babies and young children, so… occasionally, we include bubble play in our Kindermusik classes.

Our little babies in the summer Peek-a-boo class are wide eyed and mesmerized by these fleeting colorful globes, which provide excellent visual stimulation, and a unique tactile stimulation on their skin for their senses.  And we have fun adding words and “bubble music” to add that extra auditory layer for this multi-sensory experience.

There are two songs about bubbles that can be purchased and downloaded from play.kindermusik.com:

• Bubbles
• Bubbles on Me  –  This is on the Tub Tunes album, which is full of upbeat bathtime tunes !  Download the whole album.

For young babies, just saying the word “bubbles” repeatedly with different inflections in the voice adds to the mesmerizing effect.  Say it with a high pitch, low pitch, or moving from high to low pitches, breathy voice, singing voice, whisper voice… etc.  and occasionally add in the word “pop” as the bubbles disappear.  Play with your voice, as they play with the bubbles.  In a Babybug magazine, I found this simple little poem that just expands on this type of vocal play.

Bubbles, Bubbles  by “Miss Jackie” Silberg 

Bubbles,       bubbles,       Everywhere.      

           Floating,        popping,       In the air.

This beautiful baby with bubbles picture came from a delightful article on the Imagination Tree blog.  She shares her experiences with her children, and the benefits of bubble play with young babies.

0O000O0OOO0O-OOOooo000OO0OOO000O000OOOoooo

I found this wonderful little poem in A Year of Fun:  Just for Threes by Jean Warren and Theodosia Sideropoulos Spewok.  Have fun singing this song and pretending to BE the bubble,  to float like a bubble, up high and stop, and then float to the ground and “pop” (jump up).

I’m a Little Bubble   by Jean Warren        (Sung to:  “I’m a Little Teapot” )

I’m a little bubble in the air.

I can float most anywhere.

You can blow me higher,

But when you stop,

I float right down,

And then – I – POP.

0O000O0OOO0O-OOOooo000OO0OOO000O000OOOoooo

Whenever we enjoy our Kindermusik Beach Days adventures in the summer (like this year), we celebrate the bubbles on the waves, and the bubbles that trickle up from the fish, (bloop, bloop, bloop), with all the fun of a bubble machine and a group of children sitting on a large parachute.  Wish I could show you a picture, but I am always too busy bubbling !    To go along with the ocean theme, we like to use some of the melodies of our favorite beach tunes.

My Bubbles Float Over the Ocean  (sung to “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”)

My bubbles float over the ocean

My bubbles float over the sea

My bubbles float over the ocean,

Oh, bring back my bubbles to me. 

Bring back, bring back,Oh, bring back, my bubbles to me, to me.

bring back, bring back, oh, bring back, my bubbles to me.

 0O000O0OOO0O-OOOooo000OO0OOO000O000OOOoooo

Here’s a few more ideas for enjoying bubble play at home:

 

• Blow bubbles around the child (not at the face).  Encourage to pop the bubbles by clapping, catching, touching, kicking, swatting with fly swatter, or stomping them when they get close to the ground.
• Challenge an older child to catch one in a clear jar.
• Spread an old shower curtain on the floor in the kitchen or outside.  Place a dishpan in the center then add warm water and liquid dish detergent. Make bubbles.
• Make bath or sink full of bubbles, then practice blowing them off a hand or object, gentle & rough.
• Blow bubbles gently from a wand, then blow the formed bubble more roughly moving them around in the air.
• Listen to bubble sounds; ie. carbonated drinks, blowing bubbles in chocolate milk.
•  Fizzy Apple Drink:  1 cup apple juice, ½ cup club soda, 4 ice cubes, 1 slice apple.

Children REALLY want to blow the bubbles with the little wand, but sometimes they do not have the blowing skills yet.  Have them practice by blowing the bubbles that are already in the air.  Practice blowing rough (lots of air) and gently (necessary for making bubbles).  Blowing like this is excellent for the lungs and mouth muscles, and is often used in speech therapy.   When they have better control over their breath, then they can try blowing bubbles with the wand.  This is a fun little poem I found in a Babybug magazine that is perfect for this play.  Personalize the poem by using your child’s name instead.

Jeremiah, Blow the Bubbles

Jeremiah, blow the bubbles   Puff, Puff, Puff.

First you blow them gently,   Then you blow them rough. 

 0O000O0OOO0O-OOOooo000OO0OOO000O000OOOoooo

It is so easy to make a big batch of bubbles, as long as you have the glycerin, AND perhaps even make your own bubble toys.

Best homemade bubble mixture:  ¼ cup liquid detergent, ¾ cup water, 1 Tbs. sugar, and ¼ cup glycerin (Add more glycerin if you want it stronger).  ·         For a wand, use a pipe cleaner or twist tie to make a larger circle, then dip and wave it around slowly.

 

Make A Toy:    Shake It Bottles    Fill a small clear plastic bottle halfway with warm water, then add a bit of liquid dishwashing detergent.  Fasten the top securely, and then wrap it with strong tape.    Give the bottle to your child and encourage them to shake it. Let them have fun creating bubbles in the water.  Add glitter ora few drops of food coloring to the water to make colorful bubbles, if you wish.

More bubble play can be found at the following links:

Find more extreme forms of bubble recipes, activities, tricks, and even computer play is found at www.bubbles.org .

THE bubble master, RI Bubble Guy is the bomb.  This is one of his first videos, he gets better and more complex.  Check out this website: www.soapbubbler.com , to see more.

Resources for several of the activities listed:    I Highly recommend that families with young children get these !!!

• Treasured Time with your Toddler: A Monthly Guide to Activities – by Jan Brennan
• A Year of Fun:  Just for Ones/Twos/Threes by Jean Warren and Theodosia Sideropoulos Spewok
• Babybug Magazine (6m-2yrs) – Call 1-800-827-0227  Also have Ladybug (2-6), Spider, & Cricket & LOTS more!

I’m sure you have more ideas on how to play with bubbles with your young child.  PLEASE Share !!!