This has been a warm week and I have been looking for things to do outside with the kids. Rather than yell, “No, you can not go swimming yet, it is too cold!” I look for other solutions.
This weekend when my grandkids came over we made bubble pictures. When they were done, I hosed them off with the garden hose connected to my kitchen sink (so I could add some warm water).
The kids had fun, played in water and did not catch a cold doing it.
Find out what's happening in Montvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The recipe I use is from the National Wildlife Federation and it is a great recipe. The only thing different I do is add a few drops of corn syrup to the mixture, maybe a 1/8 of a cup. This makes the solution a bit thicker and less likely to spill fast if tipped over.
Find out what's happening in Montvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
National Wildlife Federation Bubble Recipe
1/4 cup liquid dishwashing detergent
3/4 cup cold water
5 drops of glycerin (available in pharmacies and drug stores)
(available in pharmacies or any drug store)
Picture 1 - Ingredients
If you would like, add 1/8 cup or less of corn syrup.
Gently mix all together, then divide it up into small containers. I also add left over paint from watercolor paint pallets. I chip out the dried paint and rinse off any color that might have been mixed in with them. Like the yellow always seems to turn green or black. When I get it back to yellow, I throw it in the yellow bubble solution. You can also use food coloring as I did here. I save old bubble bottles to match the color of the bubbles I put in them.
Picture 2 - Solution
Bubble Pictures
I use all sorts of things to make bubble pictures. We use a potato masher with round holes for small bubbles. A new fly swatter makes it easy for small kids, as all they have to do is swing it. Loops of wire or pipe cleaners work well. Our favorite is a cup. I take a paper, plastic, or Styrofoam cup and cut it into rings.
Picture 3 - Large bubbles
The choices are endless as you try different things around your house - cookie cutters are good, and so are squeeze bottles (you have to be gentle with these).
Picture 4 - Small bubbles
I like to get rolls of paper and hang them on the clothesline with clothespins and let the kids go at it.
Picture 5 - Bubble marks
When they are done, we cut a big piece the size of my refrigerator and hang it up on display
Picture 6 - Finished bubble art