Bubbles Are The Best! Want to Know Why?

​​Number 2 on my 'Play, Chat, Learn' list: Blow bubbles together.

Why Bubbles Are The Best:

They Give Your Child Lots of Reasons to Communicate And Create A Fun Activity For You To Share. 

Firstly, yes they’re great fun but they also give your child lots of reasons to communicate and learn. This is why they're NUMBER 2 on my 'Play, Chat, Learn' list.  Bubbles are highly motivating, interactive and give children many reasons to communicate.  I always use bubbles in my early language and social skill groups because they help communication happen.
What your child might learn from sharing bubbles with you:

• Looking at you and smiling to share the experience (social engagement and joint attention).
• Asking you to play bubbles with him/her by bringing you the bubble jar, reaching for or pointing to the jar, using a gesture/sign for bubbles, or saying a sound, word or sentence (requesting to play – an important social skill).
• Asking for more bubbles by bringing you the bubble jar, pointing, using a gesture/sign to indicate bubbles, making a sound or saying a word or sentence (requesting – teaches children the 'power of communication' in getting more of what they want).
• Asking you to help open the bubble jar so you can blow more bubbles by bringing you the jar, pointing to the bubble jar, using a gesture, sound, word or sentence (requesting ‘help’ – an important social skill).
• Copying gestures you use and words you say about the bubbles (imitation – a foundation skill in learning to talk and learning to use language).
• Using sounds, words and sentences to talk about the bubbles and what they’re doing (commenting – a foundation language skill for expressing what is happening around them).
• Taking turns blowing or popping bubbles (turn taking - an extremely important social skill).

Next week I’ll talk about ways you can encourage more communication by giving your child ‘reason’s to communicate’ when you blow bubbles together by creating situations that tempt your child to interact with you. I'll also give suggestions for words and sentences you can encourage.

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What do I do if I have concerns about my child's communication?

​‘Act Early’ and talk to a specialist if you have concerns about your Child’s Communication or general development.  Speech Pathologists specialise in supporting children who have difficulties in their communication development.  If you're concerned about another area of your child's development talk to your child's GP or child health nurse.  Having a look at a developmental checklist to help you determine if you're child is reaching their expected developmental milestones may also help you determine if you need to seek extra support to help your child in their development.  I have listed several developmental checklists you can access via my 'information for parents' section on my website.

Written By Sarah Creagh,
Speech Pathologist
Speech Smart Therapy
Ph: 0466911315