Bubble Wands
This week’s challenge was to take something really simple – a stick – and turn it into something else entirely.
We’ve used sticks for all the usual things before: swords, magic wands, den building, digging in the mud, general outdoor chaos… so they’re definitely not short of uses here. But this time we wanted to see what else we could come up with if we looked at them a bit differently.
After a bit of messing about and trying a few ideas, we ended up deciding to make a giant bubble wand.
We grabbed two long sticks and tied string between them to make a big loop. It took a bit of fiddling to get it right, we found that the strings needed to overlap else the bubbles just popped. We also had to adjust the length a couple of times because it either sagged too much or didn’t dip properly.
Once we got it working, we dipped it into bubble solution and slowly pulled it through the air. The first few attempts were a bit hit and miss, but then suddenly it just worked – huge bubbles forming and drifting off across the garden. The wind helped loads and some of them were massive. It turned into one of those simple things where you end up doing it way longer than you planned, just because it’s fun watching them float away and pop.
If you want to try it at home 🫧
You just need:
- 2 sticks (longer ones are easier)
- String or strong yarn
- Bubble mix (shop bought or homemade)
- A tray or tub for dipping
Tie each end of the string to a stick so it forms a loop. Make sure it’s secure, then adjust the length so it hangs loosely rather than pulled tight.
Dip the loop into your bubble mix until it’s fully coated, then slowly lift the sticks apart and move them through the air. Let the wind do its thing – that’s usually when the biggest bubbles happen.
It might take a few goes to get the hang of it, but once it works it’s one of those simple, slightly magical activities that keeps them entertained for ages.
