鶹Լ > Activities > 2-3 years
Bubbles are great fun for your little ones.
Babies and toddlers love the way bubbles float, the way they pop and the way they sparkle in the light.
And because they are so mesmerised by them, they are a great prompt for chatting and language development.
What are the benefits of bubble play for two year olds?
- Bubbles are really fun and capture children's attention.
- Describing how the bubbles are 'big', 'small', 'wet' and 'slimy' provides lots of opportunities for your little one to hear new words.
- Blowing bubbles encourages your child to take turns with you and other children.
- Learning to blow bubbles is good exercise for the developing muscles in the jaw and mouth.
- Popping bubbles promotes the development of hand-eye coordination.
Top tips for play with bubbles with two year olds
Children are fascinated by bubbles, so they're a great way to stimulate some chat.
Let your little ones take turns with you blowing the bubbles and use simple instructions so they know it's their turn. Using and repeating names when practising turn-taking is really important.
Encourage them to pop the bubbles. You can count how many bubbles they pop or how many they can see.
Try using words like 'lots', 'a few' or 'some' to describe the bubbles. You could add an extra challenge for your little one by asking them to blow a bubble in a particular direction.
This helps them learn mathematical language around size and direction. You could ask 'Who can blow the bubbles up high?' or 'Who can blow the bubbles all the way over to the chair?'
Remember to build long pauses after asking a question to give your child chance to respond. This shows them that you're turn taking in your chats, as well as your play.
How to make bubble mixture
It’s really easy to make your own bubbles from washing-up liquid and water. This recipe below makes 350ml of bubble mixture and only takes 5 minutes to put together.
You can store your mixture in old bottles or containers, so you don't have to use it all at once.
You will need:
- 50ml washing-up liquid (one part)
- 300ml water (six parts)
1. Measure the washing-up liquid into your container.
2. Slowly add the water. Be careful not to create too many bubbles at this stage.
3. Gently stir the mixture together to combine.
4. If you can, let the bubble mixture rest before using it, as it will make your bubbles even better.
鶹Լmade fun
You don't always need to go to the shops to buy toys. Here are a few more activities where you can create your own fun using household objects:
- Have some sensory fun with our homemade playdough recipe.
- Who needs paint when you can use teabags? It's also a great way of reusing old tea bags!
- Make your own snap cards or matching pairs game with just some paper and pencils.
- Did you know you could create your own ball run at home with some cardboard tubes and a door, fridge or wardrobe?
