Children learn about themselves, others and the world around them through active and imaginative play.

As beloved Pittsburgher Fred Rogers articulated, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh provides a wealth of opportunities for your child to engage in play, especially in “open ended play”, which is creative play that isn’t limited by a preset goal or outcome. A great way to provide open ended play for your child is to have a “bubble day” in your home. You can make homemade bubbles using the recipe found here. There are endless ideas for making bubble blowers using materials you already have on hand. All you really need is an open outdoor space and a clear day. Experiment with making bubbles of all sizes; stack them, bounce them, you can even blow a bubble inside a bubble. Mix paint into your bubble solution and make bubble art!

Playing with bubbles supports your child’s development in surprising ways. This is an activity where parental guidance is needed, strengthening your parent-child relationship. Using smaller bubble wands and narrow jars to blow bubbles develops your child’s hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Using large bubble wands and chasing bubbles develops their large muscles and overall balance, called gross motor skills. Bubbles are also a highly social activity and there are many opportunities for turn taking, a useful life skill that will help your child to be ready for kindergarten.

Blow bubbles with the Carnegie Library at two exciting events this spring:

• On April 21st, 2018, CLP will have a bubble station at the Earth Day Celebration at Frick Park
• On May 20th, 2018, CLP will have a bubble station at the Ultimate Play Day in August Wilson Park

Want to learn more about bubbles? Carnegie Library has some great books to explore!

Preschoolers:

• Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy
• Pop! : a Book About Bubbles by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, illustrated by Margaret Miller
• City Shapes by Diana Murray, illustrated by Bryan Collier

Early Elementary School:

• Big Bad Bubble by Adam Rubin
• How to Make Bubbles by Erika Shores

Upper Elementary School:

• I Wonder Why Soap Makes Bubbles and Other Questions about Science by Barbara Taylor
• Super Simple Things to do with Bubbles: Fun and Easy Science for Kids by Kelly Doudna
• Bubble Homes and Fish Farts by Fiona Bayrock, illustrated by Carolyn Conahan

 

Laura H. is  part of the Carnegie Library’s Early Learning BLAST Outreach team. She loves reading, growing food in her garden and knitting things for her family. She is also a promising baseball pitcher, at least in the eyes of her four-year-old.