Bubbles

Bubbles are one of my favorite “speech and language tools.”  Look at Linus’ expression on his face as he chases bubbles – that’s often how children respond to bubbles.  Because it’s a repetitive activity, your child will know what to expect, making it more likely for them to have multiple opportunities to use the skills. Reaching, moving their body up and down to get the bubbles targets those gross motor skills. Using their hands to open the
container, close the container, hold the wand, and pop the bubbles improves their fine motor skills.  Speech
sounds /p/ and /b/ are easily targeted by saying “pop” and “bubble,” as well as rounding the lips and blowing to create the bubbles. Language … oh, the opportunities for language … Concepts, such as “up, down, big, little, behind, in front, wet,” Requesting, such as “more bubbles,” “open bubbles” and “do that again”, Commenting, such as “Oh no” “That’s cool” “I like that.”  If your child has limited expressive language, pick two skills to model, such as “open” and “more”.  The repetition will be beneficial.  As long as it’s an activity you and your child are doing together, they are developing skills. Bubbles are an activity children of every age will love.  Babies will love to watch the bubbles move, toddlers will love to chase the bubbles, preschoolers will love to blow the bubbles, and school age children will love to make the bubbles from scratch using dish soap and water. 
~Marena Mitchell, Speech-Language Pathologist