How to make frozen bubbles with the children in winter

There’s nothing like a bit of snow to lift spirits and brighten up the world in wintertime.

And if you’re looking for something to do with the kids once the snowmen have been built and the snowballs have been thrown, it’s time to reach for the bubble mixture. 



2.  Gather what you need

Bubble mixture is a given (I used pre-made stuff but there are plenty of recipes online for you to experiment with your own) and a camera/ phone if you want to capture your frozen bubbles for posterity.

Have a think in advance about where you would like your bubbles to land - in the garden, a nearby green space, or a more urban background. 

3. Small is best

When blowing your bubbles, don’t aim for ginormous impressive ones as they pop really easily. I found that small is better - they are little sturdier and have more chance of landing without bursting.

Another tip is to leave the mixture outside for a short while so that it cools down which helps the bubbles to freeze faster once they settle.

4. Keep trying

My strategy was to blow lots of bubbles and see if they would settle. Many many bubbles popped before eventually a few of them balanced on leaves, or attached themselves to a blade of grass, a discarded stick or fallen snow.

I have since read that dipping a straw in the mixture, and blowing through the straw means you can place the bubble with a lot more accuracy, which makes sense! So experiment and have fun. And if you find any techniques that work brilliantly please comment below and share your successes.

5. Let the magic happen

Once your bubble has settled, if it is cold enough you can literally watch nature take its course, as it freezes over in front of your eyes and begins to look like a tiny little planet. If find this bit particularly mesmerising.

6. Take the pictures

A fancy camera and a macro lens is useful, but not essential.

Use your phone’s macro/ close up setting if it has one (many of them do), and always remember to clean you lens to increase your chances of getting a crisp clear shot.

And what’s more,  we can definitely pass this off as a science lesson if you are doing it with your kids! Each bubble is made up of 3 layers - inside 2 outer layers of soapy mixture is a thin layer of water, and it is this innermost watery layer that is turning to ice because it freezes at a warmer temperature than the out layers. 

Definitely a win all round! So wrap up warm, head outside and experiment to your heart’s content.

And send me your pictures - I’d love to see your results, and hear of any other tips you might have.