Each TOY or GAME has a STORY to share with kids.

Today, it’s BUBBLES’ turn to tell its story (with a little help from Grandma Sharon)…

WHAT are Bubbles:  Bubbles are spherical, filmy structures made of soap, blown from a ribbed wand-on-a- stick and carried with the wind.

But that’s a kind of technical definition for what Bubbles really are… magical, floating balls of light-filled prisms.

WHO invented Bubbles, and WHEN:  You might say that Moms invented Bubbles.  Why?  Because Moms have always known that children are entertained by laundry and washing-hands-and-dishes soap bubbles.

There is an 18th century Italian painting (artist unknown) depicting the fun and wonder of children blowing Bubbles…

Then there’s the 19th century painting by Sir John Everett Millais titled Bubbles, made famous for its use in advertisements for Pears Soap…

The beginning of the 20th century blended kids’ fascination with Bubbles and the toy world when street peddlers began to sell Bubbles.

But Chem-Toy, a chemical company that sold cleaning products, would be the first to revolutionize the world of Bubbles during the 1940’s by selling Bubbles in small containers under the Mr. Bubbles name (not Mr. Bubble, the bath products.)

WHERE are Bubbles used:   Everywhere people gather to have fun.

Today, you can buy Bubbles just about anywhere.

Join in on the Bubbles fascination with your kids and grandkids.  Add a little “ta-dah!” to your Bubbles by experimenting with different sized and shaped wands.  You may want to grab some clay pipes, just like the ones in the paintings!  There are also all kinds of science lessons to be learned from the simple Bubble.  A trip to the library or the internet may be in order…

Join me here each day in July for TOY STORIES on 365 Days of Literacy for Kids! A little fun, a little learning and a little “ta-dah!”