Teach Your Kiddo How To Blow A Bubble With Gum (And Other Cool Gum Tricks)

Your kids care about a lot of things: Who can jump the highest, when they get an allowance, how to make Alexa tell them great jokes. At some point, they may even want deets about getting verified on Twitter. Right now, though, they definitely want to know how to blow a bubble with gum. Of course, bubblegum goes against everything you stand for. Like, you know, not having bubblegum stuck to every surface and not having to cut it out of hair. Still, chomping on some gum and seeing who can blow the biggest, hugest, bestest bubble is just part of being a kid.

While it could snowball into a big ol’ mess, it could also be a chance to reminisce about your childhood. Remember chewing grape Big League Chew at Little League games when you were growing up? Or maybe you’re feeling nostalgic for racing your cousins to the ice cream truck every Saturday so you could get the ice cream with the gumball in the center. Everyone has a gum memory, even if it’s just the fondness you feel wash over you when you smell some of your grandma’s minty Wrigley’s gum.

Did you know there are also tons of tricks you can do with bubblegum? Sure, if you want to split hairs, you might say they’re all kind of gross. After all, you’re basically playing with your spit. But your littles are only little for so long! So, we’re going to walk you through the simple steps for blowing a bubble. Because, real talk, it’s hard to remember how to instruct someone else if you’ve known how to do it for a while. Once you’ve taught your kiddos the basics, you can move on to some of the epic gum tricks we found for you.

Worried about sticky messes? Make gum an outside-only treat. Start in play clothes with hair secured out of the face. You could even wear hats if it brings you a little extra peace of mind.

How to Blow a Bubble With Gum

1. Start with good bubble-blowing gum. We suggest Big League Chew or Bubblicious in a yummy flavor of your choice (ahem, if it’s not grape, you’re wrong). Take out two pieces — or pinches, if your gum of choice is BLC — but keep in mind that little mouths might do better with just one or even a half.

2. Chomp, chomp, chomp until the gum is nice and soft but still juicy.

3. Use your tongue to push the piece of gum against the roof of your mouth. Doing so flattens it out into a disk-like shape.

4. Next, move the piece of gum to the front of your mouth, behind your teeth.

5. Open your mouth and, using your tongue, push the gum between your teeth and lips. Go slow and do this gently so that you don’t poke a hole with your tongue.

6. Continue using your tongue to push your gum disk out in the center until it’s nice and thin. (Maybe have some mirrors handy, so your kids can watch themselves during this step.)

7. Once the center of your gum disk is nice and thin, blow into it with your breath to start creating a bubble. You’ll need to have your kiddo practice blowing hard using a deep breath or a big sigh. Just your regular breath won’t cut it! Think of it like trying to blow straw bubbles in a milkshake vs. thinner liquid.

8. Once your bubble starts to expand from your breath, pull your tongue out and just blow.

9. Use your teeth to pinch the bubble closed once it’s as big as you’d like it. Or, hey, keep blowing until it pops. That’s part of the fun, right?

Bubblegum Tricks

Frozen Bubble

File this under the ultimate prank! After you blow your bubble and pinch it off, take it out and put it in the freezer. Once it’s frozen solid, put the gum wad back in your mouth and show off your “impenetrable” bubble to a friend or sibling who doesn’t know you froze it.

Teeth Mold

This trick is silly and pointless — which pretty much guarantees that your kids will love it. Granted, you might not be a fan since it involves gum exiting the mouth. But did you know bubblegum’s texture is very similar to silly putty and playdough, making it perfect for molding? Have your kiddos press their chewed gum against the front of their teeth and then compare everyone’s teeth molds.

Bubble Within a Bubble

Blowing a bubble within a bubble might be the hardest bubblegum trick to pull off. While most people think it makes sense to try to blow a big bubble first and then blow a smaller bubble directly into it, there’s an easier way. Start by blowing a smaller bubble, and keep it safe at the front side of your mouth. Next, blow a regular big bubble. Before you seal off your big bubble, use your tongue to move your smaller bubble into the large one. Seal it off and voila!

Even More Bubblegum Tricks — For Gum, Gum Wrappers, and Gum Packages

Warning: Not all of these are kid-appropriate.

If you make bubblegum an outdoor activity, don’t forget to “confiscate” it before you come back inside.

Is It Rude To Pop Your Gum?

If a parent has popped you for popping your gum, we understand why you’re asking this question. Chewing gum is OK to do at work, a wedding, or even the library (not court though), but smacking and drawing attention to what’s in your mouth can disrupt those around you. To some, it’s just unpleasant. It’s best to do it alone or around close friends or family who don’t mind. Think of it like chewing food with your mouth open. Gross, right?

What Is the Biggest Bubble Ever?

Want to see how far bubblegum-blowing can go? Well, Chad Fell from Winston County, Alabama, set the Guinness World Record for the largest bubblegum bubble blown in the U.S. In 2004, he blew a bubble with a diameter of 20 inches that was made of three pieces of Dubble Bubble gum.

How to Make Bubble Gum

Bubbalicious, Bazooka, Double Bubble! The list can go on, but have you ever thought to make your own gum? It’s easier than you think, and you can choose the flavor.

Ingredients

• One-third of a cup of gum base
• Half or three-fourths of a cup of powdered sugar
• Half a tablespoon of light corn syrup
• One teaspoon of glycerin
• One-fourth of a teaspoon of citric acid
• Six drops of whatever flavoring you like! It can be strawberry, root beer, or mint!
• Three drops of food coloring
• Mix it all together for 10 to 15 minutes until its a creamlike consistency.

How to Make Bubble Gum Ice Cream

Everyone has a favorite flavor, but if bubble gum makes you go bonkers, turn it into ice cream. It’s the best of both worlds. You’ll get a frozen custard treat and a chewy surprise all in one.

Ingredients

• Two cups of heavy whipping cream
• One can of sweetened condensed milk
• Blue, pink, or green food coloring
• One teaspoon of bubble gum flavoring or vanilla
• Six ounces of gumballs