During each Infant Lapsit program, I like to provide an opportunity for the children to play with bubbles. So, you might wonder how bubbles are related to a literacy program. Everyone knows that children enjoy this activity; however, there really is more thought behind my choice.
According to the American Optometric Association [2], “Reading requires the integration of a number of different vision skills: visual acuity, visual fixation, accommodation, binocular fusion, convergence, field of vision, and form perception."
Playing with bubbles provides children with the opportunity to develop and refine several skills needed to be a successful future reader.
- Simply by watching bubbles glide through the air their eyes are focusing and tracking the object.
- As an infant’s eyesight continues to develop, they will begin to reach out to touch the bubbles. At this stage, the child may not be able to catch it, but they are developing depth perception and the ability to judge distance.
- When the child tries to pop the bubble with their hand they are working on hand-eye coordination and balance.
- Finally, when they are successful at popping the bubble they establishing a knowledge base for understanding cause and effect.
Bubble play is fun for children of all ages, and I hope that I have convinced you to try this activity at home.
My bubbles of choice, are created by Gymboree, [3]and they did not pay me to say that. They are non-toxic and simply work better than anything else that I have found.
Bubble photograph is a Cc image and was provided by flickr member Followship of the Rich. [4]
- Childrens [5]
- Family Program [6]
- Infant Lapsit [7]
- Literacy Program [8]
- Pre-reading skills [9]
- Atascocita [10]
