It was an experience.
Twenty little kids, ages 1 ½ to 3 years.
What do you call a group of toddlers?
A Tantrum of Toddlers?
A Teeter?
Tumble?
Toddle?
It would be worth exploring.
I know what you call a group of parents/grandparents who have spent two hours with the little cretins. A Tired.
But I digress . . .
This little group of boys and girls had been playing happily.
Reading books. (I use this term lightly.)
Running.
Playing with puzzles. (Again used lightly.)
Running.
Throwing balls and other toys at each other.
Running.
‘Cooking’ such gourmet specialties as . . . trucks. Shoes. At least one book. And two of the puzzle pieces we had been hunting for for over twenty minutes.
Playing with dollies.
Fighting/tug-o-warring with said dollies.
Crying when dollies were put away in a safe place and other toys introduced.
Running.
Falling off the slide.
Devouring snacks.
Devouring their neighbour’s snacks.
Running.
Before you think any of them were in any real danger, let me disabuse you.
No one was in any real danger.
There were few tears (mostly at losing their tug-o-war prop) and no injuries.
But I discovered something.
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| See? |
When a group of toddlers is running madly and the room is started to resemble the streets of Edmonton after the Stanley Cup, all one has to do is turn on the bubble machine.
It’s true. I watched it happen.
The bubbles instantly attracted (and held) the entire group of toddlers.
They (the bubbles, I mean) floated gently into the air and every child in the room stopped what they were doing and exclaimed, as one, “Oooooh!” Then they ran to the blanket/blotter beside the machine and jumped and hopped, trying to catch the little, dripping, glistening balls of wonder and amazement.
It was incredible. Magical.
Quiet.
I’m getting a machine like that!
P.S. I wonder if this would work on the mobs that form after sporting events or political rallies? It's worth thinking about . . .
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| Who's with me?! |
I am with you. You are so right. Let's try this! I too have experienced the magic of bubbles. I might be tempted to always carry bubbles in my backpack from now on. Do you think one of those small manual models would do the job?
ReplyDeleteA run of toddlers?
ReplyDeleteI find bubbles completely and utterly fascinating. I might (just might) have pushed some of those toddlers out of my way to get closer to the bubble machine.
And how I am longing for winter and the chance to freeze bubbles again.
It's certainly worth a try, bubbles always enchant me.
ReplyDeleteYou may have just discovered a tool for world peace, Diane :)
ReplyDeleteI like EC's idea of a "run" of toddlers. And I like your "tired" of grandparents. I know that feeling now - ha
And on noticing your title, I see you already knew that, lol
DeleteI one mentioned to my niece that I was bringing a bubble wand and bottle of bubble liquid as a Christmas gift for her two year old son. When I arrived, I found she'd bought him a bubble machine. He watched it for barely a minute then lost interest. Didn't seem interested in blowing his own bubbles from the wand I'd bought either. it was confusing for me. What small child doesn't love bubbles?
ReplyDeleteI loved blowing bubbles (using bubble liquid and a wand; how low tech lol) for my son when he was a toddler. Fun for both of us! Last week I attended a tasting in a suburb of Orlando, FL and towards the end the tasting presenter suddenly blew some bubbles. It was so much fun. Maybe each city downtown should have a bubble machine. Maybe we really would have peace in our time, finally. If only.
ReplyDeleteThat is an awful lot of toddlers to be in charge of but no doubt they loved you!
ReplyDelete