Do you remember your favorite springtime activities as a kid? Perhaps, you spent your afternoons playing outside. Days spent running, skipping and tossing balls. Things were different for us, before tablets, apps and video games came along. I remember reenacting episodes of Star Trek out on the swing set with my siblings. Yes, I am that old.
My best friend, Kristen, lived next door to us. We often spent days coming up with new cheers and dance routines. In the evenings, our parents and siblings were forced to sit and watch our productions.
Mom used to make homemade bubble solution by the gallon. She made so many things herself, from our Sunday dresses to homemade mayonnaise. The latter I didn’t enjoy quite so much. I wanted the stuff that came in a jar. If only I knew then what I know now.
Although a lot has changed, I love that many of the simple activities like blowing bubbles and playing hopscotch are still popular with kids. This spring and summer, I will be helping my family enjoy some of the good old-fashioned fun that I got to experience as a kid.
Blowing bubbles is great fun, especially when you make your own wands and blowers. The thing about bubbles is that they bring out the kid in all of us.
To make your own bubble solution, you’ll need:
3 cups hot water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup dish soap
In a large bowl or container, add the corn syrup to the water and stir until it is dissolved. Slowly add the dish soap and stir well. Pour the bubble solution into a container with a tight fitting lid.
You can make a variety of your own bubble blowers. Gather some straws into a bunch and wrap them in tape. Another option is to take a soda or water bottle and cut off the end with a sharp blade. If younger kids will be using this blower, you might want to gently sand the cut edge with a piece of sand paper.
Bubble wands are oh-so easy to make! All you need is some pipe cleaners. Bend them into the shapes that you want, leaving a short end to hold on to.
We made ours bubble wands in the shape of stars, flowers, squares and more.
One of my favorite things as a kid was heading into the house, after an afternoon of play, for the delicious snack mom had ready for us. Oh, how I loved mac and cheese. I still do.
Horizon Mac and Cheese helps fuel you and your kids for active playtime – whether its on-the-go, making gluten-free tasty, or giving kids permission to play with their food, this classic mac can be a fun and tasty way to bring everyone together.
For more springtime fun, tradition and memories, be sure to follow Horizon Organic on Facebook and Twitter. Enter for a chance to win free Mac and Snacks for a Year.
What are your favorite springtime memories from childhood?
This conversation is sponsored by Horizon. The opinions and text are all mine.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
April 10, 2015 at 11:48 AMI love your DIY wands. I think I am going to make those with my kids when it warms up a little bit.
Ann BAcciaglia says
April 13, 2015 at 9:41 AMThey sure looks like a lot of fun on a summer day!
Lisa Ladrido says
April 10, 2015 at 12:19 PMThose look adorable! I remember catching lightning bugs in a jar when I was a kid! We would do that all summer!
Pam says
April 10, 2015 at 4:22 PMThis is so fun! I have made homemade bubbles before but never made my own wands. I didn’t even know you could.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
April 11, 2015 at 11:29 AMMe neither, but I am going to try it. We have some nice spring weather here this weekend, so I think I might try it tomorrow.
Melissa Smith says
April 10, 2015 at 5:13 PMMy kids are always losing their bubble wands. And since I would rather make our own bubble solution anyways, I think we’re going to make our own wands too. Especially since I have a ton of pipe cleaners!
Jeanine says
April 10, 2015 at 7:06 PMHow fun. I’ve made bubbles before plenty of times but never wands. How awesome, easy and a much better way to do it then constantly buying new ones!
Theresa says
April 10, 2015 at 11:43 PMI never even thought to use pipe cleaners as bubble wands. What a brilliant idea!
touristmeetstraveler says
April 11, 2015 at 2:15 AMI love those bubble wands, it is tons of fun in the summer!
[email protected] says
April 11, 2015 at 3:16 PMThanks for sharing this recipe. The boy can go through bubbles like crazy and I expect him to go through a lot this summer.
Rosey says
April 11, 2015 at 3:26 PMI was just saying we need to make some bubbles. We ran out of the solution in the Easter basekts. 🙂
Janell @ Saving You Dinero says
April 11, 2015 at 3:57 PMWe use to get the small 600 ml bottles and attach a sock to the end – that makes the coolest bubble train.
Terry says
April 11, 2015 at 4:27 PMWe were at our Granddaughters last week. She found these bubbles that she had forgotten all winter in her back yard. Do you know they still worked!
Stacey- Travel Blogger says
April 11, 2015 at 8:46 PMAh, that reminds me of those summer days when I was young! Blowing bubbles and eating mac and cheese were national pastimes back then!
Mama to 5 BLessings says
April 11, 2015 at 9:23 PMWhat a cute idea. I like how you made your own wands too. I pinned this to do with my kids over the summer.
April G says
April 11, 2015 at 9:24 PMI don’t particularly have any springtime memories, but I love how easy it is to make your own bubbles and wand. Pinning.
toughcookiemommy says
April 11, 2015 at 11:53 PMI love blowing bubbles with the kids. This is such a great way to make blowing bubbles even more enjoyable.
Melissa Vera says
April 12, 2015 at 12:23 AMFlying kites with my girls was a favorite activity. Now that they are older I miss those days.
Chrissy Mazzocchi says
April 12, 2015 at 1:08 AMMy Daughter loves to blow bubbles! She has a Birthday coming up soon so I’m going to makes these with her!
Maureen Campaiola says
April 12, 2015 at 6:14 AMI love horizon mac and cheese. Better ingredients.
melisasource says
April 12, 2015 at 11:24 AMOh wow these DIY wands are great! I’ll have to do this with my kids!
Marcie W. says
April 12, 2015 at 1:45 PMI remember blowing bubbles with my grandparents when I was a little girl. I know my kids would really enjoy those unique wands and some yummy mac and cheese!
Chrystal @ YUM eating says
April 12, 2015 at 2:26 PMWhat a fun bubble set. We still enjoy blowing bubbles around here and do it all summer long. We have this really cool bubble maker for our fairy garden.
Brandy says
April 12, 2015 at 3:51 PMI never had much luck doing the old fashion recipe for bubbles, I will have to try again! It would be a cheaper way to go. Thanks for a great article!
Pam says
April 12, 2015 at 5:48 PMBlowing bubbles is always such a fun thing for spring. I always loved the colored chalk on the sidewalks and riding bike too. I see lots of pictures of spring activities being posted this weekend of Facebook and it is so nice.
Ann BAcciaglia says
April 12, 2015 at 10:46 PMI had no idea there was corn syrup in bubble solution. Very clever! I also love your homemade wands. Very creative and I know a bunch of little kids that would love to make bubbles.
Kim says
April 13, 2015 at 8:41 AMMy kids love doing bubbles! I never thought about making homemade wands. That will be a fun project. Thanks for sharing!
Amanda H. says
April 13, 2015 at 9:12 AMThose pipe cleaner wands are so cute! Much cheaper to make than to buy for sure!
Amanda says
April 13, 2015 at 11:03 AMThis looks like so much fun! Perfect now that the weather gets nicer.
kristin says
April 13, 2015 at 8:53 PMOur kids love bubbles. So many fun out door activities that so many kids miss out on not us that’s for sure.
Alesha @ Full Time Mama says
April 14, 2015 at 12:44 AMWhat a fun idea! My kids love bubbles but I never really considered making any at home. Must try this!
Melissa French, The More With Less Mom says
April 14, 2015 at 6:00 PMWe love making our own bubble stuff. We like to elastic band a facecloth over a tube and use that. Thanks for posting. Hello from Motivation Monday
Bridget/The Recipe Wench says
April 18, 2015 at 11:40 AMGreat post! I loved playing outside as a kid. We had an area of our front lawn that didn’t drain very well. I used to fill it up and then take my goldfish out of the aquarium to go for a little swim! They survived my kindness! Thanks for sharing this how-to at the Inspire Me Mondays Link-Up!
Fee Roberts says
May 3, 2015 at 9:34 PMI’ll have to make some of this for my granddaughter. She just loves bubbles.
MEG TUCKER says
September 20, 2015 at 7:29 AMThere is still nothing better than good old fashioned fun. Forget all the computer games. My Grandma too used to make us bubbles and I love the tip you gave about making wands with the pipe cleaners into fun shapes.
Lisa Brown says
September 21, 2015 at 6:12 AMthe wands are great; i would imagine they hold more bubble solution. looks like fun 🙂
Rosie says
October 13, 2015 at 12:00 PMaww these little wands are so darling! I would like to do this for the holidays bring it out when kids get bored!
sherri chastain says
November 10, 2015 at 1:41 AMoh i need to make bubbles and wands for my grand children they will love this .. thanks so much i appreciate the great tips
Paula Atwell says
March 30, 2017 at 5:19 PMDo you have to be a kid to do this? I want to do it myself.