Blog
Welcome to The Bubble Box Blog where you will find free activities and articles related to early childhood development and education with a focus on music and the creative arts. These articles are research and experience driven and authored by The Bubble Box Creator, Sarah Richard-Preston.
How does Western parenting differ from other cultures?
"Can you recommend any books for new mums?" an expecting colleague asked me. I gave her the titles of a few books I'd read when my own children were young. Later, I contemplated how strange it is that Western mothers rely on books to learn about ways of parenting. In...
How to help your child become a good listener
Believe it or not the most important skill we need to succeed in life is listening. As parents, we all want our children to listen to us, to listen to their teachers at school and to others. But how can you help your child become a good listener? Well perhaps, the key...
How Lullabies Calm your Fussy Baby
It’s a fact of life that getting babies to sleep can be challenging. This is especially so once they leave the dreamy newborn stage. Even in ancient times, parents used singing to calm their children. The earliest written records of lullabies are from Babylonia...
The Wonderful Benefits of Wonder for your Family
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, how I wonder what you are. There is nothing quite like a vast night sky to evoke a sense of wonder, for children and adults alike. When my eldest child was a toddler she loved looking at the moon. As evening fell she would ask to be...
Learn English Through Music: How Music is Superfood for Your Baby’s Brain
As an early years teacher, I have taught for many years at a school in Brisbane, Australia that has predominantly Asian students. Many of my students are from non-English speaking backgrounds. Every day in my class we sing songs, recite nursery rhymes, listen and move...
3 Ways to Give Your Baby a Head Start: Advice From a Teacher
Dear Expecting and New Parents, There is often the perception that a child’s first school teacher is the most important teacher. Well, I have been an early years teacher for 12 years and let me tell you that the one thing that has become more and more clear to...
Screen Time for Young Children: How to Strike a Balance
Technology is hard to say ‘No’ to I just read that Pink won’t let her 10-year-old daughter get a mobile phone, despite the fact that most of her peers have one. Go Pink - I applaud you on your conviction! My husband and I have experienced the constant pestering of my...
3 Ways Young Families Benefited from Music During the Covid Pandemic
Back when I used to teach early childhood music classes, my favourite part was witnessing the beautiful smiles and giggles that were shared between mother and child when they interacted through music. I could see what an incredibly powerful tool music can be for...
The Importance of Making Time for Play with Baby
Becoming a parent for the first time can be a huge transition, from only having your own wants and needs to meet to having a baby dependent on you for everything. There are so many new things to get your head around such as feeding. changing and sleeping. Throw in...
10 Bubble Songs for Babies and Young Children – With Audio and Lyrics
Blowing bubbles is one of the world’s oldest and most popular activities for young children. The wonder, awe and stimulation that bubbles provide, represent an exciting way to encourage your baby's curiosity and learning. Singing a little song while you blow the...
8 Musical Christmas Gift Ideas for Baby
Give your baby the gift of music this Christmas! Music really is the most wonderful gift that you can give your baby this Christmas. You are not just giving your baby a toy – you are giving them an experience. One which develops their learning and skills in so many...
Why ‘old-fashioned’ nursery rhymes are still important
Are nursery rhymes a thing of the past? Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King's horses and all the King's men, Couldn't put Humpty together again. It seems that Humpty and all of his Mother Goose friends are falling out of favour...
5 Fabulous Music Ideas for Babies
I am often asked the question - when can I introduce my baby to music? In fact, it's never too early to introduce your baby to music. You can integrate music into your baby's day to day routine right from birth, which really is giving them the best start in life....
3 Tips for Introducing Your Baby to a Foreign Language
You might think it’s impossible to teach your child a language that you don’t speak. But who says you have to be fluent in French, proficient at Portuguese or able to chat in Chinese to introduce your baby a foreign language. Why teach your baby another language?...
Nature play ideas for young children
Wonders to see, smell, touch and hear, Nature delights us all through the year, With beauty that's ours to enjoy and protect, Because nature deserves our love and respect.- Disney Winnie the Poo "Nature's True Colours" In today's busy world we tend to spend more time...