Super Bubbles

We took this picture during our last Tasting. David and company are on our front lawn, learning to use "beebo Big Bubble Mix" to create what can only be called an XTREME bubble. "Our mission," say the XTREME Bubble Team "is to manufacture and distribute to all people, the most exciting, amazing and revolutionary bubble solution in the history of the world! We believe that if every person in the world had a chance to play with beeboo Big Bubble Mix, the world would become a better place." Yes, beebo Big Bubble Mix, the same beeboo Big Bubble Mix used to blow the " the World's Largest Free Floating Soap Bubble."

There was no question at all about the Major FUNness of the XTREME bubble-making experience. I personally have never seen bubbles so large, so ameoba-like in their blobitude, so surprising in their floaty formations. Not having made an exhaustive comparison, I can not attest to the fact that beebo Big Bubble Mix results in the biggest of all possible bubbles. It worked. It was easy to mix, easy to make work. Learning to use the bubble wand was most definitely an integral part of the whole experience. As a connoisseur of all things fun, I can tell you that this stuff is great fun. And I mean great!

At a purported savings of $6, you're probably going to want to purchase the entire 1 Bottle of beeboo™ Mix & 1 Bubble Wand starter kit. Then, you'll probably have to get the 2 bottles of beeboo™ Big Bubble Mix, unless you find yourself ready for the 4 bottles of beeboo™ Big Bubble Mix

Adolescent Playfulness and Well-Being

In their research paper, Adolescent Playfulness and Well-Being, authors Marianne Staempfli and Roger C. Mannell, of the University of Waterloo, discuss what may be key discoveries about the nature of all three: adolescence, playfuness, and well-being.

"...playful adolescents experience high mental and physical health. Less playful adolescents appear to experience problems with their peers and with issues related to self. When faced with daily playful teens engage in a combination of coping strategies depending on the problems at hand. Playfulness appears to function as a positive mediator rather than an antagonistic force in the experience of stress and coping. No gender and age differences were observed

"...Findings from this study are particularly relevant to the field of practice in suggesting the importance of promoting play and playfulness as an asset to positive adolescent development and well-being. The findings imply that playfulness functions as a type of dispositional resiliency during adolescence due to its stress-moderating properties particularly during leisure. Also, playfulness has the capacity to alleviate boredom, release tension and prevent aggression, and to promote group membership and civic engagement, which may enhance positive experiences at school, at home or during leisure."

Marbles

I first wrote about my understanding of the nature of play and sports in an article called "A Million Ways to Play Marbles, at Least" - originally included in the appendix of The Well-Played Game.

You can listen to me read it here.

In it's own silly way, it reflects pretty much everything I know about the nature of games. Personally, I think every kid between the ages of 8-12 needs to hear this at least once, and every adult over 30, several many times, at least.