Bubble Fun with Little Kids

School may be in session, but you wouldn't think that summer was gone from the way we're still wearing tank tops and shorts and sandals. The dry, hot, Indian Summer in Northern California has begun, and since we had mild summer weather, it actually feels more like summer now that it did all summer! The umbrellas are still out in our back yard, and we're still doing some water play out on the driveway, and there's still plenty of time for us to enjoy the assortment of Little Kids bubble toys that I was given at the beginning of the summer. Here's a description of the items we were sent to review, and what I thought of them:


Little Kids® Original No-Spill® Bubble Tumbler® (ARV: $5)
Special patented design eliminates accidental bubble spills and keeps liquid inside for more bubble fun! Multiple award winner including – Oppenheim Toy Portfolio’s Gold Seal, Parent’s Choice Classic, and National Parenting Publication Gold Award! Styles include fairies and cars! Includes wand and 4 oz. of Little Kids No Stain, No Dye, Non-Toxic premium bubble liquid. Frankly, the original is still the best, and I've always been a fan of the no-spill design. It's easy to load up with bubble liquid and since it's refillable, you can buy the big valu-pak of bubble liquid so your child can enjoy his bubbles for a long, long time -- and you don't have to worry too much about big bubble spills.




Little Kids® Original No-Spill® Mini Bubble Bucket® (ARV: $7)
Just like the original full sized No-Spill Big Bubble Bucket, the Mini Bucket will not spill its bubble liquid when tipped, dropped or turned upside down. The toy features three wands, making it a perfect toy for one, two or even three children to enjoy. The fold-down handle is perfect for play dates on the go. Includes 4 oz. of Little Kids No Stain, No Dye, Non-Toxic bubble liquid. I love the fact that this toy has three wands -- not because 3 kids can share, because I don't think the mini bucket is actually big enough for kids to share easily -- but because you get 2 extra wands in case one gets lost or broken! The handle is so cute, and it's so small and light, which makes it easy for little hands to carry their bucket around with them. Best of all, it's so inexpensive that you can afford to buy one for each of your kids!


Bubble Friends (ARV: $20)
Create tons of big bubbles and hear Sally the cow "MOO"! It's easy, pull back on the cow's head to start the bubbles and sound! Includes 4 oz. of Little Kids No Stain, No Dye, Non-Toxic premium bubble liquid. Requires 3 "AA" batteries. (Sold Separately.)I gave this to my 20-month old nephew and he was absolutely delighted with it. He kept prying the cow's head open and saying, "Moo, moo", and whenever the bubbles came out of the cow's mouth, he laughed and tried to chase down the bubbles. It's sturdy and high-quality and funny and cute and just perfect for toddlers!


Dora the Explorer Big Bubble Wand (ARV: $5)
Simply wave this flower-shaped wand in the air to create big bubbles! A dip tray and 4 oz. of Nickelodeon premium bubble liquid is included.This is a really cute bubble wand, and I love the convenience of the take-apart handle, which makes it easy to store. Parents of Dora fans, beware, though -- the "Dora" part is just packaging, and the neither dip tray, wand nor bubble liquid have Dora on them. Still, it's packaged very nicely, and would make a great addition to a Dora present pack or a Dory birthday party goody bag.


Go Diego Go Adventure Wand (ARV: $4)
Adventure wands combine three different colored and shaped bubble wands that are connected to and stored into the handle of the Adventure wand. The colors and shapes of the wands correspond to the character and nature of the show. Each Adventure Bubble Wand comes with 2 ounces of Nickelodeon premium bubble solution. Recommended for ages 3 and up. Easy to hold wand for little hands, with three little blowers attached. Dip tray included! This is another nice addition to a themed goody bag. The leaf and flower bubble wands don't work very well, but the circular one works just fine. A great inexpensive present for Diego fans.



Little Kids Bubble Light (ARV: $8)
Combines the pre-schooler's love of flashlights with bubble blowing! Dip the wand into the dipping tray and press the button for tons of illuminated bubbles! Includes a dipping tray and 4 oz. of Little Kids No Stain, No Dye, Non-Toxic premium bubble liquid. Requires 3 "AAA" batteries. (Sold Separately.) 3+I thought this one was a lot of fun because of the added component of the light (this is most fun just when it's beginning to get dark, so you can actually see the stream of light illuminating the bubbles) but I'm not a big fan of having to constantly dip the bubble light into the dip tray in order to get lots of bubbles. Still, I like the chunky, toddler-friendly light; it feels nice and heavy and sturdy, like it might actually still work after your toddler drops it once!


No Spill Spongebob Squarepants Bubble Boat Machine (ARV: $15)
No Spill Spongebob Squarepants Bubble Boat Machine blows up yo 3000 bubbles a minute. Includes 4 Fl. Oz of Deluxe Bubble Liquid. Bubble liquid contains no dyes and is non-toxic. Toy does not float and will not work in water. Requires 2 "AA" Batteries (not included). Ages 3+ Even without the bubbles this is a great toy! Spongebob looks so cute in his boat, and he's just begging for a little boy to push him all around the floor! The toy is well-built and Spongebob actually looks like Spongebob, which is more than I can say for some other plastic figurines. The bubble machine works reliably and blows a nice stream of bubbles -- the only thing that would make it better would be if kids could take this into the tub and still have the bubble motor working afterwards :)



Overall, these are great, inexpensive ways for your child to have some outdoor fun. The licensed-character toys are always a great hit because kids know and love these characters (Hmm..... Dora bubble-maker? Or ordinary pink bubble-maker? Which one do you think your kid would choose??) Like most bubble toys, they're not the sturdiest things in the world -- expect them to last a season, or two (if you're the type who's meticulous about cleaning and putting them away) at the most, but they're inexpensive enough to buy year after year. And they make great party favors!

Disclosure: I received an assortment of product samples from Little Kids, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.