What is the TalkTools® Bubble Kit?

The Bubble Kit supports Oral Placement Therapy (OPT)™ with a graded Bubble Hierarchy. Therapists guide clients from easy, close-range bubbles to longer, more precise blowing tasks. As clients progress, they learn steady, directed airflow for speech and feeding.

In sessions, clinicians often target breath control, sustained exhalation, early bilabial closure, lip rounding, and attention to task. The kit also pairs well with other OPT tools, such as the Straw Kit and Horn Kit, to round out programs.

What’s included

The TalkTools Bubble Kit contains:

• 1 Bubble Tube
• 1 Bubble Tube Refill
• 1 Bubble Bear
• 1 Bubble Bear Refill
• 3 Bubble Straws
• 1 Puppet
• TalkTools original instruction booklet

How it works (in OPT)

In OPT, the Bubble Kit is used to follow a bubble hierarchy—a series of blowing tasks that move from easier to harder. Clients start with simple, big bubbles close to the mouth and progress toward more controlled, longer, and more specific airflow (for example, blowing bubbles from farther away or for a longer time).

As clients move up this hierarchy, they practice abdominal grading (controlling how much air they release), consistent oral airflow, lip rounding, and tongue retraction. These skills support speech clarity and can prepare clients for other OPT tools such as the Straw Kit and Horn Kit.

Benefits & use cases

• Breath & voice: Build breath control and abdominal grading for longer phrases and steadier voicing.
• Airflow for clarity: Encourage controlled oral airflow that supports clearer speech.
• Early speech mechanics: Promote bilabial closure, lip rounding, and tongue retraction—also useful for straw drinking.
• Motivation: Show clear cause-and-effect—correct blowing makes bubbles—which boosts engagement.
• Program fit: Integrate easily with horns, straws, and other OPT tools; include it in starter plans.
• Settings: Use in clinics, schools, and guided home programs.

Who it’s for

Use this kit if you are a trained professional (SLP/SLT, OT, or similar) or a caregiver working under clinician guidance. Typical contexts include outpatient clinics, school therapy rooms, early intervention, and supervised home practice. Always provide close adult supervision.

How to use (quick start)

These are general, non-prescriptive tips. Always follow your client’s treatment plan and local infection-control policies.

1. Review the booklet and goals. Pick the Bubble Hierarchy starting point that matches current skills.
2. Set up the Bubble Tube or Bubble Bear. Fill with the correct TalkTools refill. Keep containers upright.
3. Model the task. Demonstrate an inhale, firm lip seal on the straw or wand, and slow, steady exhalation until bubbles appear.
4. Follow the hierarchy. Begin easy; then adjust distance, duration, and precision as readiness grows.
5. Use the puppet for engagement. Take turns, “cheer,” or have it “ask” for more bubbles to sustain attention.
6. Monitor tolerance. Pause or stop if you see fatigue, coughing, dizziness, or frustration. When unsure, consult the supervising clinician.

Care & safety

Cleaning

Wipe non-porous parts after use. Hand-wash bubble containers, straws, and the puppet with warm water and mild soap. Then let items air-dry fully before storage. When possible, assign individual straws or kits per client. Avoid dishwashers unless TalkTools explicitly says an item is dishwasher-safe.

Refills

Use TalkTools Bubble Tube and Refill. Replace solution regularly to keep it clean and effective. Clinicians may add Scent-Sational™ Bubbles (“Breathe,” “Relax,” “Focus”) for olfactory input when appropriate.

Safety & supervision

• Contains small parts and liquids → choking/ingestion hazard.
• Always supervise use and keep the kit out of reach when not in use.
• Do not allow anyone to drink the solution.
• Inspect parts before sessions. Replace any cracked or worn items.
• This information does not replace medical or therapeutic advice. Follow your clinician’s plan.

Key takeaways

• The TalkTools Bubble Kit is a structured OPT tool for practicing controlled oral airflow with motivating therapy bubbles.
• It follows a bubble hierarchy that gradually builds abdominal grading, lip rounding, and tongue retraction skills related to speech clarity.
• The kit includes Bubble Tube, Bubble Bear, refills, straws, puppet, and an instruction booklet designed for clinician-led use.
• It pairs well with other OPT tools like the Straw Kit, Horn Kit, and OPT Starter Bundle.
• Adult supervision and appropriate cleaning are essential for safe, effective use.

FAQs

Related terms

• Oral Placement Therapy (OPT): A tactile, structured approach that uses tools like horns, straws, and bubbles to support the sensory–motor skills needed for speech and feeding. The Bubble Kit is described as a pillar within OPT programs.
• Straw Kit: A graded set of straws used in the OPT Straw Drinking Hierarchy to build tongue retraction, lip rounding, and controlled sucking–swallowing patterns that support speech and feeding skills.
• Horn Therapy: A hierarchy of horns used to teach abdominal grading, controlled oral airflow, lip closure, and other oral-motor skills. Delivered through the Horn Kit, it complements bubble and straw work in OPT.
• Bubble Tube: A TalkTools bubble tool that, with its refill, is used within the airflow hierarchy to promote abdominal grading, controlled oral airflow, lip rounding, and tongue retraction. Included in the Bubble Kit and also sold separately.
• Scent-Sational™ Bubbles: Goal-based, scented bubble solutions (“Breathe,” “Relax,” “Focus”) designed to add olfactory input to bubble activities. They can be paired with the Bubble Kit to encourage nasal breathing, attention, and positive sensory experiences when used by a trained clinician.
• OPT Starter Bundle: A bundle that includes key OPT tools—Straw Kit, Horn Kit, Honey Bear, Bubble Kit, Jaw Grading Bite Blocks, and Bite Tube Set—offering a common starting point for many OPT programs.

Resources

• TalkTools® Bubble Kit product page – Official product details, kit contents, and purchasing options.
• Self-Study Course: “Bubbles: Everyone’s Favorite Tool” – One-hour online course demonstrating bubble hierarchy techniques and clinical applications.
• TalkTools® OPT™ Starter Bundle – Overview of a core set of OPT tools, including Bubble Kit, with links to additional OPT education.