Wait! Don't Catch A Bubble Yet!
Written: Aug 24 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Compact size is great for travel.
Cons: Cannot really catch them!
The Bottom Line: A durable and compact container for bubbles, but don't try to catch them!
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| Staceys1's Full Review: Spin Master Toys CatchABubble 3Pack |
Most children love to blow bubbles, right? But bubbles pop and disappear almost immediately, so when I saw the this new Catch A Bubble product, I thought, why not try it?
The bubbles come in a 6 ml. plastic "test-tube" in one of a variety of colors: green, blue, yellow, purple, orange, red and pink. The test tube has a pocket clip so that children can clip the vial to their clothing while playing other games.
The bubble solution itself is clear and seems to be a bit thicker and sticker than most solutions. The top screws off and the bubble blower is attached to it (great for moms who will not have to stick their fingers into the bubble solution each time to grasp the blower) with a diamond shaped hole to blow through.
Catch A Bubble has a more durable formula than most bubbles, which, in theory, will allow you to catch and stack bubble atop bubble. We have found this to be true only occasionally.
In order to use this product as intended, you need to unscrew the top and blow a bubble. At first this was a little difficult for my three year old daughter because of the thickness of the solution. You must let the bubble "set" and dry for a few seconds (the drier the air, the sooner it will set). Then you can either catch the bubble with the wand and place it somewhere (paper plates were our choice), or blow additional bubbles, wait for them to set and then attach them together. If you attempt to catch or stack them before they are set, you will have a gooey mess on your hands!
Unfortunately, some things that work well in theory do not always work well in real life. First, these are not the bubbles you want to use on a windy day. Although thicker than most bubbles, they are still small bubbles and will float away into the wind. If you do not intend to even attempt stacking bubbles, then purchase a cheaper bubble solution and enjoy.
Second, do not use these bubbles on very hot or humid days because they will not set and when you attempt to attach two bubbles together, you will end up with a sticky mess rather than siamese bubbles.
Third, try to avoid getting these bubbles in your hair since they are difficult to get out without shampoo. Remember, once a bubble has set, it is sticky and will adhere to whatever it lands on.
The downside to the thicker formula of the Catch A Bubble product is that the ground (or sides of your house) will have small, sticky circular patterns from where bubbles landed and popped. With most bubbles, normal evaporation seems to take care of popped bubbles on the ground, but we found remnants of these bubbles a week after we had used them. On the positive side, a quick rinse with the hose makes for a quick cleanup.
The advertisements for Catch A Bubble state that once the bubbles have "aged" in the air, you can grab, stack or throw them. We have not found this to be true. In perfect weather conditions, a few bubbles can be stacked together, however, grabbing a bubble deflates it and if you cannot get a hold on one, how can you possibly throw it?
These bubbles are expensive, especially since in my experience they do not really do what they are supposed to. The three pack of bubbles (6 ml. each) is about $12, and I have also seen them individually priced at $3.99 each. Many times a larger package gives you a smaller cost per unit, but not in this case. Standard bubbles can be refilled rather inexpensively, at about $3 for a 64 ounce bottle.
Catch A Bubble is recommended for ages 4 to 8, and was named a Best Vacation Children's Product for 2002 by Dr. Toy (www.drtoy.com).
Would I recommend Spinmaster's Catch A Bubble as the next best thing to hit the world of bubbles? The answer is maybe. I do not feel that the product lives up to its advertising, however, the compact size is easy for small hands to hold onto, and although we cannot really "catch" these bubbles, the containers are a perfect size to toss in a bag when going to the playground. Once the original solution is used up in all of our test-tubes, we will be refilling them with standard bubble solution since the containers themselves are holding up quite well.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 11.99
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
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