Welcome to Part 1 of my Play Series! Throughout these post I will share simple ways to incorporate language into everyday play based routines. Bubbles are very engaging for many children. They like to look at them, pop them, and try to blow them (which may be hard for some of our little guys). So much language can be imbedded into bubble play. Keep reading for strategies!
- If you child enjoys blowing the bubbles (or attempting to blow bubbles) take turns using the bubble wand. You can say:
“my turn” and “your turn” when interchanging the bubbles - Talk about where the bubbles are getting blown to (i.e. up or down). Talk about where the bubbles landed (i.e. on the floor, on your finger).
Examples: “blow bubbles up”, “blow down”, “pop on your nose”, “bubbles up” - Talk about the actions (blow, pop). Have your child request you to pop the bubbles. When you are popping the bubbles say “pop” each time you pop one. Repetition is good! It takes little guys lots of repetitions of the same words to learn them!
Examples: “one, two, three, …… blow!”, “more bubbles”, “blow bubbles”, “momma blow”, “ready, set……blow” “pop, pop, pop” “pop with my finger”, “pop with my nose” - Sabotage something! Sometimes it is hard to open bubbles with little hands. Give your child the bubbles tightly closed so they need to ask for help.
Example: “open”, “help” , “help open”, “momma help”, “mommy open” - Sing a song! Some little guys love songs and music. You can make up a song to a familiar tune.
Example: “pop, pop, pop the bubbles, pop, pop, pop the bubbles, watch me pop them now” - Make requests. Have your child request a turn, request more, or request where to blow them. You can offer choices (i.e. up or down).
Example: gesture more, “more”, “more bubbles”, “blow”, “up”
While playing with bubbles always model the skills/language you want your child to use. Give them time to think and process after you model several times. Some strategies to use are:
- Wait time/expected pauses
This is when you wait for your child to communicate. I like to count to 10 in my head with an expecting look on my face. If you are holding the bubbles near your mouth and you are expecting your child to say “blow”, but they don’t that is okay. If you see them establish eye contact, clap, or point…. model “blow” and then blow the bubbles. Those are great building blocks to communication. - Lead in phrases
Lead in phrases are a great way for our little guys to know the expectations/appropriate word. Model a short phrase many times, such as “ready, set, blow”. After you have done this many times say, “ready, set………” and wait. They may say “blow” (or something close), look at you or point. Take any of these as communication and model the higher step (i.e. eye contact–> you may point to the bubbles and say “blow”). - Self-talk and parallel talk
This is when you talk about what your child is doing (parallel talk) and what you are doing (self talk). Modeling language is so important for growing. If you are dipping the stick in the bubbles, talk about it. If the bubbles spilled, talk about it. - Meet your child where they are developmentally and one up them
If your child is only using single words, expect single words. Then model their word plus an extra. For example, if they say “bubble” you say “more bubble”, “blow bubble”, “pop bubble”. - Let them lead!
Let your child explore and play. Trial and error is so important for language skills, as well as developing problem solving skills. We so often want to jump in and help because we want to keep going or avoid a meltdown. If your child wants to dip the bubble wand in themself, but their little fingers drop it. Let them drop it. Let them try to figure out how to get it out. They may surprise you and do it! Or they can use it to ask for help. If they ask for help you can help them by giving directions (were they putting their whole hand in? maybe try two fingers if they have the ability) or do it for them with them watching you and talk about what you are doing.
Leave a comment below with how you used this or if you found it helpful! I’d love to hear from you!
Time 2 Talk, LLC 