Bubbles and babies; there are very few things in life that are as perfect as the two. What else is there to match or equal their divine, blissful and cherubic magic. Yet, for most of us, we would not think to affiliate them.
As delightful as they are separate, there are many benefits bubbles can provide babies when brought together.
Bubbles can help support babies healthy cognitive, physical and vocabulary development.
Here is a few benefits bubble play can provide babies:
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Visual Tracking
A newborn baby will be able to see and watch bubbles from about three months of age. From this point, their near-sighted vision has developed enough for babies to see the colour and contrast of the bubbles.
Watching bubbles movement provide babies with the opportunity to strengthen their eye muscles. Visually tracking the motion of the bubbles can help them to develop focus.
Belinda Joyce, midwife, maternal & child health nurse of over 20 years mentions “babies are not born with visual tracking skills; this is something that is learnt. Skills include how to follow, adjust focus, concentrate on a focal point etc.
“As a baby will fix their gaze on a bubble and track the bubble as it moves across the room, this will assist with strengthening both eyes at the same time.”
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Spacial awareness and sense of direction
As babies, observe bubbles rise and float through the air, they can help babies learn about their environment. This can also demonstrate that some objects are heavy and others a lightweight and float.
Joyce mentions, “Spacial awareness is another learned skill, bubbles can teach babies the difference in speed albeit slow and fast-moving objects and the difference in direction.”
Bubbles can also assist babies in developing comprehension of shape, form and texture.
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Muscle strengthening
The inquisitive nature of babies can encourage motion and activity to strengthen their muscles, especially during tummy time.
Belinda mentions “When a baby is laying on its tummy, the bubbles can promote a movement that will help develop their muscle tone development. As they lift their heads high and turn both ways, this assists with making their initial forward-moving movements. The bubbles can motivate them to pull their body forward and move towards the bubbles as they reach to catch them.”
As babies continue to grow and start to crawl, chasing bubbles can provide much more than gentle exercise. Muscle strengthening and progress in their physical strength is developed as babies reach out to touch the bubbles. Coordination and self-confidence are developed during this phase and will assist your child later in their life with physical activities such as walking, running, climbing jumping, swimming, writing and more.
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Gross Motor skills
Bubble movement can assist with developing their hand-eye and foot-eye coordination.
‘Babies learn through play and improving fine motor skills. Babies may try to touch and reach for bubbles with their hand or foot; this movement helps develop their gross motor skills.’ says Joyce.
“Babies lying on the floor advance their hand to eye coordination. This, in turn, helps build their strength and endurance, attention and alertness (which is also known as sensory processing), coordination and body awareness.”
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Welcome distraction
Joyce states, ‘Bubbles look magical and captivate babies. For many years immunisation nurses have used bubble machines in consultation rooms to assist with babies having their immunisations.”
“Babies find the enjoyment of watching the bubbles seemed to take the pain away instantly. Bubble machines can help with any painful procedures as attention has been directed away from the pain to something magical. Babies tend not to dwell on the procedure as their focus is quickly shifted back to the fun of the bubbles very quickly, making it an enjoyable experience.”
Personally, I think a bubble machine is so much better than a bubble wand, as the machine does the work for you.”
Bubbles for this age group goes beyond babies blowing bubbles or making raspberries sounds. Bubbles are indeed beneficial for babies cognitive, physical and vocabulary development.
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