Summer Fun Day 12 - Bubble Stations

Soap bubbles supply some of the summer's simplest joys.  But, blowing bubbles can easily be bumped from a brief boredom buster to an afternoon event.

All it takes is the tiniest bit of planning and set-up.

Next time you head out to the store, keep an eye out for unique and different bubble toys.  This time of year they are abundant, and often on sale.  Once you've collected an eclectic assortment of bubble blowers, blasters, spinners, wands and the like, all you have to do is wait for a nice sunny afternoon.

Station the toys strategically around the yard.  It is also a good idea to set up a refill station, with extra bubble solution on hand.

Post each child at a different station (or at the first station if you only have one child), but instruct them not to begin playing until they hear you blow the whistle (a drinking straw giggle flute makes a handy substitute if you don't have a whistle).  Instruct the children not to be sad if they didn't get the toy they wanted, because everyone will get a chance to play with them all.

Blow the whistle, and let the children play with their respective bubble making toys.  Then, just about the time they're really getting in the swing of things...

...blow the whistle again, and instruct them it's time to put their toys back and move on to the next station to their left.  Let them circle through the circuit a few times, or for long as it seems fun, in this manner...

...allowing for a period of free play at the end, where they can play with whichever of toys they prefer.  And, try not to be too crest fallen if your children, like mine, choose the "refill" bottles - the plain old bubble bottles with the wands included inside - as their favorites.

It's all about the fun.