Blowing bubbles does not come naturally to all children. Before offering real bubbles, consider having children practice...
Blowing bubbles does not come naturally to all children. Before offering real bubbles, consider having children practice how to blow without sucking in. Bringing bubble solution into your childcare offers preschoolers the opportunity learn how to blow bubbles by first practicing with straws, and then progressing to bubble wands with bubble solution.
What you'll need
- straws
- bubble wands
- feathers
- bubble solution
Step by step
Step 1
Give each child a drinking straw. Have him place one end of the straw in his mouth while holding it with one hand. Have him place the palm of his other hand underneath the other end. Tell children to keep their lips sealed around the straw as they blow through it. Can they feel air on the hand underneath the straw? Remind them to blow gently. Explain that when they blow bubbles through a bubble wand, they need to blow gently or bubbles will not form.
Step 2
Practice gently blowing feathers across a table with the straws. Once the children have the hang of it, give each child a bubble wand so they may try blowing real bubbles using a bubble solution.
Playful questions
What happens when you blow through the bubble wand really hard?
What happens when you blow through the bubble wand very softly?
What colors do you see in the bubbles?
What happens when you touch a bubble?
Learning outcomes
Social-Emotional Development
Self-Regulation
Demonstrates increasing self-direction, independence, and control; calms self with minimal adult support; increasingly handles transitions appropriately
Manages own behavior and shows age-appropriate self-regulation; calms self and shares strategies with others; considers social standards of environment before responding to emotions or actions of others
Physical Development and Health
Gross Motor Development
Moves body to travel/play games (runs well, gallops, walks on uneven surfaces, walks backward in straight line, broad jumps, hops forward on two feet)
Refines mobility and moves with a purpose (walks backward in games/activities, runs smoothly, gallops, skips, walks heel-to-toe, hops on one foot)
Physical Development and Health
Fine Motor Development
Refines wrist and finger movements for more control (pours without spilling from small container, successful with some fasteners on clothing, folds paper, manipulates playdough and clay)
Uses small, precise hand movements to complete tasks (fastens clothing, folds paper with accuracy and symmetry; begins attempting to tie shoes, uses a dominant hand)
Uses tools requiring small muscle dexterity (crayons, markers, scissors to cut straight lines, etc.)
Uses tools that require strength and dexterity of small muscles with moderate control (holds scissors correctly to cut shapes and curved lines; controls use of writing, drawing, art tools, and art/craft media; uses spray bottles, paper punch)