Bubble Station

A bubble station is a hands-on bubble-making activity where you use special wands and bubble solution to make giant, wobbly, rainbow-coloured bubbles. You try different wands and techniques, find out what makes a bubble grow and why it pops, and learn how to make your bubbles last longer. It's simple, a little bit magical and loved by children and grown-ups alike.

A bubble is a very thin layer of soapy water wrapped around a pocket of air. Plain water doesn't stretch well, but adding soap changes how the water holds together, so the film can stretch into a big, thin skin without breaking straight away.

Those swirling rainbow colours come from light bouncing off the inside and outside of the film. As the bubble gets thinner, the colours shift and change. Bubbles pop when the film dries out or touches something dry, which is why a wet finger can sometimes poke a bubble without bursting it. Give it a try.

Giant string wands use two sticks with a loop of soft rope between them. Dip the rope, lift it up and let the breeze or a slow walk backwards stretch out enormous, floating bubbles.

Multi-ring wands have lots of small loops, so one wave sends out a cloud of bubbles at once. Hoop wands are large rings that can be lifted up around a person standing in a tray of solution, surrounding them with a bubble wall. Small handheld wands are perfect for little ones, and for blowing a bubble inside a bubble.

Move slowly and smoothly, because quick movements pop bubbles before they've formed. Keep your wand fully soaked in solution and try not to let it dry out. Calm, damp days are brilliant for bubbles, while hot, dry or very windy days make them pop faster. A good solution helps too: bubble makers often add a thickener to make the film stronger and stretchier.

It's perfect for all ages, from toddlers chasing bubbles to older children trying to beat the family record for the biggest one. There's a bit of science to spark curious questions, a bit of skill to master and lots of laughter when a bubble lands on someone's nose. Grown-ups are usually just as hooked, so expect some friendly competition.

You might also like Bubble Disco & Games, Explosive Science and Glow Monster Slime Lab.

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