Operation Playtime Day 10 of 12: Make Bubbles

1. Operation playtime- come join in! 20th January 2009
2. #OPT starts tomorrow
3. Operation Playtime Day 1 of 12: Blocks
4. Operation Playtime Day 2 of 12: Record a nursery rhyme or action song together
5. Operation Playtime Day 3 of 12 Cooking
6. Operation Playtime Day 4 of 12: Book marathon
7. Operation Playtime Day 5 of 12:Painting
8. Operation Playtime Day 6 of 12: Get outside
9. Operation Playtime Day 7 of 12: Pretend play
10. Operation Playtime 8 of 12: Kitchen Grocery Store
11. Operation Playtime Day 9 of 12: Playdoh, gloop and yuk!
12. Operation Playtime Day 10 of 12:  Make [tag]Bubbles[/tag]

Like many unplugged play activities we’ve already tried in the last ten days, we may look at the title and think,  “Oh bubbles. We do bubbles.” We give our kids the bubble solution or we blow bubbles ourselves for a time. But what if you were to carve out more time to let the kids really get into this unplugged play project instead of using bubbles for 10 minutes on a hot summer’s day.

There’s so much more to bubbles than a hot summer’s day.

1. Learning breath control. You have to have patience to blow continuously and slowly to get a bubble.
2. Dipping and mixing- too much of either and you have foam and no bubbles
3. Calming because you have to have control. Try blowing bubbles when you’re angry.
4. Great to share and make friends with at the local park.
5. You can get large bubbles and lots of little bubbles- all it takes is practice.
6. Inspire the budding scientist with the variety of bubble mixtures. Getting the recipe right. Trying new formulas etc.
7. Opportunity to improve social skills. e.g trial and error & perseverance.
8. Cooperation between siblings/friends. Who holds? Who gets the wand?
9. Games you can play:  Who can pop 10 bubbles? touch 5 bubbles with your elbow/wrist/knee/bottom ( always gets a laugh)

During the winter our bubble fascination continues with straws and bowls. The kitchen side by side sink works great for both boys to blow bubbles. I think because the sound resembles something else……… usually we have fits of giggles and some poor person inhaling the liquid. But all in good fun.

Bubble prints are a fun crafty project during the winter months too. Along with impromptu baths in the middle of the day to play with bubbles. This last one a rare but fun change.

You don’t have to just use wands. Think closer to home.e.g. slotted spoons, whisks, cookie cutters, pipe cleaners, wire loops, fly swats etc. Look around the house to find alternative wands.

• Put your thoughts in a blog post and use that link, not your blog, into Mr Linky. We want to go right to your post 🙂
• And/or Add a comment here as well if you’d like.
• Follow the other Operation Playtimers and comment on their #OPT post.

See you tomorrow.