Friday, December 23, 2016

Bubble Mountains

Thomas’s OT introduced us to 'Bubble Mountains' recently and they have not only been a wonderful tool for helping with self regulation, but are also a huge hit with both of my boys. 

To do this exercise, start by filling a bucket, bowl or other container with water and then adding a few squirts of gentle dish soap.  Make sure the dish soap gets added after the water so that no bubbles are made before you start.  Provide your child with a straw and tell them to take a deep breath in.  When they are ready to exhale, they put their straw in the water and blow through the straw for as long as they can, creating bubbles.  Then they take their mouth off of the straw for another deep breath in and repeat!  After a few deep inhales and exhales, your child should have a large bubble formation. 

Basically the idea is that they are taking deep breaths, but in a fun way!  Just try to remind them not to breathe in with the straw in their mouths.  My boys will once in awhile get so wrapped up in making their bubble mountain that they forget this and end up with a mouthful of soapy water!  Deep breath in without straw, deep breath out with straw :) 

My son is easily overwhelmed by sensory stimulation, so the proprioceptive input received from blowing the bubbles through a straw is very calming, in addition to the deep breathing.  It is a great activity for after school when he is coming down from the sensory overload of the day.

Have you ever tried this?  What other exercises do you use for self-regulation?   Post below or on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1677892492524783/



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