Libby Public School Series: Bubbles

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Bubbles are an old time favorite of mine. I have had many fun times playing with bubbles when our children were little. Now I still pull out the bubbles on a regular basis when working with the kids, they are fun, engaging and unknowingly access a variety of skills. Bubbles can be bought from the store in many sizes with a variety of accessories, however plain bubbles and a wand is all you need. You can even make them yourself using warm water, liquid dish soap and sugar. For stronger bubbles you can add a table spoon of glycerin.



Skills that can be taught using bubbles:
  • Relationship building: Playing with your child is the best way to find out what is happening in their world, sharing thoughts and ideas while having fun.
  • Following directions: Have your child help make the bubbles following the recipe, while playing with the bubbles directing the child e.g. "look up to see the bubble", "pop the bubble", "blow harder or softer"
  • Focus and Attention: Bubbles are fun and thus tend to keep their attention while focusing on blowing the bubbles. If your child struggles to blow the bubbles he or she may get frustrated and loose interest, you  may need to blow the bubbles while your child chases, catches and pops them. 
  • Self Regulation: Bubbles can energize the child who is feeling down or relax by watching the bubbles if they are upset. It is an easy activity to distract a child away from frustration.
  • Mouth control: The Action of blowing bubbles. requires fine motor control of the lips, cheeks and jaw to control the air flow to much will make the bubble pop, not enough and there will not be a bubble. (this oral motor exercises is often used by speech therapist to increase mouth control of speech)
  • Breathing control: How much air do you need to blow the perfect bubble or a series of bubble?
  • Grip: Pinching the bubble wand is a great hand/finger strengthening exercise needed for a pencil grip and or other fine motor skills e.g. building Lego's
  • Eye Hand Coordination: How far away is that bubble to catch or pop, how much or little force do you need?
  • Visual Tracking: Following the bubbles as they come from the wand up in the sky and back down. Follow bubbles or keep track of one particular bubble. Follow the bubble crossing the mid line or from high above down to the ground. a skill used for coping of the board and ball activities. 
  • Balance and Coordination: Stomping bubbles as they come down to the ground, try using one foot to stop the bubbles while balancing on the other. Jump up to catch the bubbles. 
Below I have some links on how to make bubbles and wands. I hope you will enjoy the related links and try to make bubbles and have some fun with your child.

Related Links
How to make your own Bubbles:


Do It Yourself Bubble Wands:

The Science Behind Bubbles:




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