Bubble game..

As promised on my facebook page... here is the bubble game

It started out with the children sitting on chairs in a circle... and when I whispered a name the child would come into the middle to pop the bubbles that I blew at the same time... the other children sitting calmly and watching... not so easy when popping bubbles is so much fun...

The game is designed to support the children in their listening skills and also in the self-regulation skills...

Sometimes I will say the same child's name several times in a row... as it was obvious when we were talking that children often have a tendency to switch off just after they have answered or contributed to the conversation... this not knowing whether I will say their name more than once.. or two three or even four times in a row keep them a little more on their toes, keeps them listening actively, helps them to practice being aware of how other's participate also...

The game has been developed with the children lining up against the wall... and the names come faster (why we stand up rather than sit down)... we have done it when the childrne can cheer each other on, and also in total silence... again challenging the children in different ways... keeping quiet requires an awful lot of self control...

We also play that all the children are to pop the bubbles at the same time, but not to make a noise and not to touch another child... each touch means those children sit out and watch, the idea to look at the technique the other children are using... those who are left (or the one child that is left.. depending on how long the bubble session goes, as we don't have the children sitting and watching for too long) will also share their technique for not bumping into someone else whilst popping bubbles... all the children then try again, trying to apply the techniques observed and listened to...

it is a VERY popular game, and the children want to play again and again... we do not talk about winners... we talk about working together so that no-one bumps into another, so that everyone plays the whole time.

Playing this game in many different ways is good fun and also means that the children get to practice their listening and their self regulation playfully... Even though we have played this game many times it is still hard work for several children to keep still and not pop the bubbles in the middle... and keep still in the sense of staying in their place until their name is called out.... and since we are a small group of children it is seldom that they have to wait for a long time...

I am not sure if I have been clear enough in this description... so if you have any questions, please ask...