How to Use Bubbles to Build Language Skills, Social Skills and Self Regulation
We love to find fun and engaging ways to build social skills. As a speech-language pathologist, I have bubbles with me at all times because I have not met a kid that doesn’t like bubbles! Bubbles are one of the most versatile and affordable therapy tools. Most SLPs use bubbles to elicit speech sounds but did you know that bubbles can also be used to build language skills, social skills, and even self regulation? Yes, it is true! Check out some of the ways you can use bubbles to increase social skills.
1.Turn Taking: Blow bubbles with a friend! Practice taking turns blowing bubbles. Take a BUBBLE CHALLENGE with your friend: Who can blow the most bubbles each time they blow? Who can blow the biggest bubble? Who can blow the longest lasting bubble?
2.Sharing: Teach sharing by having your child pick a friend to ask to play bubbles. Use the word “share” when talking about asking a friend to play. “Who are you going to share your bubbles with?”
3.Requesting: Encourage your child to use words to ask for the bubbles. Hold the bubble container and hand the wand to your child to blow the bubbles. If they want more, they can ask “Can I have more bubbles?” or “I want more bubbles, please.”
4.Language Concepts: There are loads of language concepts associated with bubbles! Here are a few: Prepositions and opposites: up/down, high/low Adjectives: shiny, big, little Verbs: float, pop, burst, blow
5.Self Control: Teach one of the early executive functioning skills of self regulation with this fun challenge: STOP! DON’T POP! First you blow bubbles and have your child pop as many as he or she can until you say “Stop! Don’t Pop!” Talk about how it is so hard to resist popping bubbles and how not popping bubbles shows awesome self control!
