Personal Space Bubble

Personal space and boundaries are an essential concept that children learn through social and emotional development. The...

Personal space and boundaries are an essential concept that children learn through social and emotional development. The invisible personal space bubble is a great form of symbolic play which enhances children’s confidence and understanding around the responsibility they have to themselves and others.

They will come out of the class with a heightened understanding of the fundamental meaning of personal space and comfort, through respect for classroom rules following basic safety and health rules.

This activity allows children to demonstrate their awareness of various emotions and feelings of others, offering to help meet their needs. They will also be able to recognize their own feelings and emotions, with the ability to manage and communicate them respectfully.

Be mindful of those who suffer from domestic abuse, or social anxiety. Everyone is socialized differently, so this is a very unique approach to have when it comes to personal boundaries.

Step 1

Children aren't always aware of personal space and social boundaries. Talk with them about these two terms. Personal space is the amount of physical space between ourselves and other people that makes us feel comfortable and safe. When certain people move into this space, it can make us feel uncomfortable. To prevent someone from invading our personal space, we can create boundaries. Boundaries are limits that we set. This could be the distance you choose to keep between yourself and others, and it can also be the ways you choose to interact with others.

Step 2

To help children understand personal space and boundaries, introduce the concept of an invisible "personal space bubble." Using a personal space bubble can help people feel comfortable around others and keep themselves safe. Describe a personal bubble as having four zones. The range of each zone can be different for each person. The center zone is for the people closest to us. Family members are typically allowed in this space because they have a strong attachment to us. The next zone in the space bubble is for friends. Friends can play side by side comfortably, and they may even interact through touch. The third zone is for acquaintances. Acquaintances are people we recognize, but don't know that well. We may smile and talk with these people, but we probably wouldn't be comfortable receiving hugs and kisses from them. The outer zone is for strangers. We are polite to these people, but we don't touch or interact much with them.

Step 3

Have the children stand with plenty of space between them. Bring out a hula hoop and hold it around each child's waist for a moment. Tell children to visualize an imaginary bubble around their bodies that is about as big as the hula hoop. Explain that the bubble is always invisible, but if the children imagine this bubble around themselves and others, they can remember to stay out of others' space bubbles and know when they need to ask someone to move out of their own space bubble. If someone gets too close, a child should have the freedom to ask them to back up.

Step 4

Give a few examples of disturbing a space bubble in school. When a child hits or kicks another person, when she pushes her way to the front of the line, or when she stands too close or talks too closely to a person's face, she is violating others' space bubbles.

Step 5

This concept may not be easily understood, so use real-life moments to teach children when they are or are not respecting someone's boundaries. Encourage children to talk with their families about their space bubbles at home. Parents and guardians can help children set their own limits and teach them what to say and do when someone gets too close inside their space bubble. All children should have the right to say "stop" or "no" in certain situations.

Do you like giving hugs?

Do you like to hold hands?

What disturbs the space bubble?

What do you say when you are not comfortable?

Social, Emotional, Language

Use expressive and receptive language to enhance a child’s understanding of personal boundaries, Enhanced confidence in standing up for rights, and communicating needs to honor personal feelings and emotions