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Bubble Chase

Adult blows bubbles; child chases, pops, and reaches for them. Works indoors over a hard floor or outdoors.

Cartoon illustration of a parent and child at home: adult blows bubbles; child chases, pops, and reaches for them.
  • Age12 months to 6 years
  • Time5 to 15 minutes
  • EnergyActive
  • CostLow cost
  • WhereIndoors or out
  • PrepNone

Blow bubbles while your child chases and pops them. Vary the height, speed, and direction to keep it active. Simple, calming, and endlessly entertaining for toddlers and preschoolers.

How to do it

  1. Open the bubble solution and blow a stream of bubbles toward your child.
  2. Encourage them to pop as many as they can before the bubbles touch the ground.
  3. Vary where you blow: high up so they have to jump, low so they have to crouch, to one side so they have to run.
  4. Blow a big single bubble slowly and challenge them to pop it with one finger before it drifts away.
  5. Take turns: let your child try to blow bubbles while you pop them.

What you need

  • Bubble solution
  • Hard floor or outdoor space

Signs it is working

Your child moves actively to get to bubbles rather than waiting for them to drift over. They vary their approach: jumping, crouching, reaching. They laugh when they pop one, especially a big one

If it is not quite clicking

Bubbles pop too quickly and your child can't reach them: Move the blowing position slightly lower and blow more gently so bubbles travel more slowly. Your child wants to hold the wand and blow themselves before they have the lung control to make bubbles: Give them a turn with gentle guidance; some blowing attempts will produce results. Bubble solution spills on the floor: Wipe it up immediately: it is very slippery

Make it yours

Younger, 12-24 months: Sit close together and blow bubbles in a small arc; popping just one bubble is a full win for this age. Older, 5-7 years: Challenge them to pop a certain number in a row, or to pop only the bubbles that float above a certain height. Siblings: Each child chases the same stream of bubbles: natural competition without conflict. Stopping signal: Agree on rounds before starting: "I'll blow three big batches of bubbles, then we put the bottle away." Count the batches aloud and announce "last batch!" before the final blow so your child knows the end is coming.

Try this with your child.

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