It is officially summer time for my kiddos! School is out and warm weather has us spending all our free time outside.
I love summer time and getting to soak up all the nice weather with my kids, especially after being cooped up in the house during the cold winter and rainy spring season. My kids love to play in their backyard on their swing set, in their corn pit, riding bikes, coloring with chalk and using their water sprinklers. However, we are still practicing “independent play,” where the kids don’t need Mommy and Daddy to play alongside them. I do love to play with them, see the huge smiles on their faces and hear their contagious laughter while we are playing together — but I still want them to be able to play on their own and let their imagination grow in that way.
What I am about to say might come to a shock for other mamas out there, but I despise giving my kids bubbles. Whatever they pop on gets sticky, and inevitably the container always gets knocked over or spilled — creating a huge, sticky mess. But still — and I can’t believe I’m saying this — I found a really cool bubble activity for my kids to try anyway.
It’s called bouncing bubbles and there are only three ingredients. You need 1 cup of warm water, 1/4 cup of Dawn dish soap and a 1/4 cup of regular sugar. Mix all the ingredients together and let it sit overnight. When it’s time to give it a try, blow the bubbles using a normal bubble wand and “catch” them with your hands. But be careful. The oils on our skin can cause the bubbles pop — so wear soft gloves to bounce the bubbles on your hands.
If your kids love bubbles and science experiments, this would be the perfect summer activity for you to try.
Ann Burns is a Morgantown native, raising two young children with her husband, Drake. She writes weekly columns for The Dominion Post. Contact her at Columns@DominionPost.com.
