Bubble Crafts to Make with Toddlers

Now that summer is here, bubbles are everywhere and children of every age are wanting to explore the floating, colorful balls that are so much fun to pop. Bubble crafts for toddlers are great. The ingredients are easy to find, even easier to make with a simple solution, and the easiest to get out of children's clothes since they are mostly made of soap. The only problem is that just sitting and blowing those amazing floating balls gets boring after a while, so coming up with a few crafts to do with the bubbles is sure to entertain any toddler for hours. Gather all the supplies, grab your toddlers, and get ready to see their faces light up as they explore each individual craft using their new favorite toy, bubbles.

Bubble Paintings are a fun way to let toddlers see a masterpiece that they made capturing the different colors and textures of bubbles. For this project, gather the bubble solution which can be made by hand by mixing 1/2 cup dish washing detergent, 1 1/2 cup water and 1 cup glycerin. Double this recipe as many times as needed depending on the amount of colors you are wanting to use. Take a shallow container like a disposable pie dish and mix 1 cup bubble solution and 1/2 cup tempera paint. Mix gently so you don't cause a bubble mess before the children get a chance. Pass out a straw to each child with a puncture or hole in the middle so they cant suck the solution up through the straw. Have them put the end of the straw into the pie dish and blow, watching a waterfall of colorful bubbles form on top. When the pie dish is covered with bubbles, hand the child a piece of paper and have them press lightly on the bubbles. They will transfer to the paper forming a unique picture. They can repeat with every color till their picture is a kaleidoscope of bubbles.

Part of the wonder of bubbles is getting to blow the biggest one. Have your toddlers explore the different shapes and sizes of bubbles through using different tools as a bubble wand. Start with a great bubble blowing mixture which is 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup liquid dish washing soap, and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place in shallow containers and let the children dip their tools in and see who can blow the biggest or smallest bubbles. Tools that can be used are the plastic rings surrounding a 6 pack of soda, toilet paper rolls, a plastic cup with a hole punctured in the end, a piece of string folded over, a hanger that has been bent into any wild shape, paper clips bent into shapes, a fly swatter, pipe cleaners that have been bent into wand shape, and even their hands held together. Let them decorate their wands, then explore the shapes and sizes each one produces.

This is a great project for older toddlers. I would recommend making sure each toddler has a smock, or old large T-shirt on for protection just in case. Take the bubble solution of 2 cups water, 1/4 cup liquid dish washing soap, and 2 tablespoons sugar and divide into little cups. Add a drop of food coloring into each cup making a different color of solution in each cup. Hand out white paper to each toddler, then have the adult blow the colored bubbles into the air. Let the toddlers run around and capture their bubbles into their sheet by flying the sheet against the flying bubbles. In the end each paper will have a unique and original bubble art.

Bubble crafts for toddlers can be memorable for you and the little ones in your care. They are easy and inexpensive to make and fun for all.