If you have always thought that a dandelion is just a weed, think again! Every part of the dandelion - leaves, stem, flower, root, is 100% edible. Which makes it a great flower choice for this activity!
You need:
dandelions*
scissors
small dish
dish soap
water
Extra:
salad spinner
*Note that it’s best to have dandelions from a source that is pesticide-free. And if you have dogs or cats, think about where they… you know…
June already loves finding dandelions. This project makes her love them even more. Let’s get started!
First, use the scissors to trim the top and bottom off of the dandelion stem. You’ll have something like 3-5 inches of stem with clean cut ends. Rinse well. Then, mix a small amount of dish soap (about the size of a half dime) with a small amount of water, maybe an equal amount or less. You really just want to dilute the detergent. Use the dandelion stem to stir the solution. Then blow gently in the opposite end and you should get bubbles!
Experiment with how breath affects the bubbles. What does a long, slow breath do, versus a quick, strong breath? If you are doing this project with very young children, have them practice blowing air to make a leaf move first, before having them blow the bubbles themselves. If they can’t do this independently, it will be just as magical to watch you for a while. They can also dry the other dandelion parts with the salad spinner and snack on them to get involved, too.
While I’m at it, if you ever need 10 minutes and just can’t figure out how to occupy your child, remember the salad spinner. I keep it in the pantry but when it comes out, June gets so excited and it is a guaranteed short break for me. It’s been a washing machine, a race track, a merry-go-round… the possibilities are endless. I also believe mine is indestructible, although I’ve been told that it’s not. I suppose if you have a vintage salad spinner that your grandpa brought home for your grandma after the war, you might want to think twice before handing it to the kiddo.
Did you try the bubbles? Or get 10 minutes of free time from the salad spinner? Leave it in the comments! xo