Activity #6: Bubble Painting

Activity: Bubble Painting!


Target Participant Group: Children with MD, Individuals with Cognitive disabilities


Therapeutic Potential of Activity:  This activity has many potential therapeutic benefits including increasing attention span, boosting morale ( fun activity), enhancing creativity, and achieving a sense of pride in one's work.  This activity can also help with coordination by painting in a different way than the norm.


Other Groups that can Benefit: Other groups that may benefit from this activity include at-risk youth.  This activity would also be great for individuals who do not have much range of motion or strength in their hands such as children with muscular dystrophy.   This activity is very simple and fun and has the potential to be used with a wide range of individuals; however, I would aim this activity mainly for younger children. Groups that may not be appropriate include individuals with severe cognitive disabilities and the elderly population.


Activity Description: 

Cover the work surface with newspaper.

Pour a quarter cup liquid dishwashing detergent into a shallow dish. If you use powdered tempera paint, mix a small amount of water with the paint.

Add the paint mixture or liquid tempera to the dishwashing liquid until the color is intense.

Place one end of a straw into the mixture, and blow until the bubbles are almost billowing over the edge of the dish. (tip- place a piece of masking tape over the blowing end of the straw and poke a hole with a needle in order to prevent the painter from inhaling the paint)

Gently place a piece of construction paper or other paper on top of the bubbles and hold it in place until several bubbles have popped.

Continue this process with different colors, blowing more bubbles as needed.

To make a unique greeting card, use a piece of construction paper folded in half.

When dry, the individual can add drawings to the picture and sign their name if desired. 

   Materials:  

• Newspaper
• Liquid dishwashing detergent
• Shallow dish
• Tempera paint
• Straw
• Construction paper or other paper

Best Leadership Style: The best leadership style for this activity would include one or two facilitators, depending on the size of the group.  This activity is pretty low key and simple so a ratio of one facilitator per 10 kids would be sufficient. (depending on ability levels)

Activity Source: I found this activity on pinterest from the arts and crafts board. (someone blogged about it, see link below)  I have also seen it used with groups of children at summer camps in the arts and crafts area.

More Info: http://the-joy-of-my-life-and-other-things.blogspot.com/2010/01/kids-art-bubble-painting.html