Bath Time Activities
Bathtime Bubbles
Bathtime Bubbles Materials Bubble solution Bubble blower Directions Blow bubbles for your child while she sits in the bath. Have her try to catch them in her open hands or clap her hands together to pop them. read more
Bathtub Finger Paints
Bathtub Finger Paints Activity for an individual child Age group: 18-40 months Duration of activity: 15 minutes Materials: 2 tablespoons liquid soap 1 tablespoon cornstarch Food coloring Most toddlers love to get messy. What better place for a messy activity than the bathtub? read more
Colored Ice Cubes
Colored Ice CubesIce cubes will melt fairly quickly in a warm bath, but they can still be a choking hazard for little ones. Please supervise carefully. Materials Ice cube tray Water Food coloring Directions Make colored ice cubes by adding a drop of food coloring to the water in each section of an ice cube tray. Freeze. Add a bowl of different-colored ice cubes to the bath for some bathtime fun. read more
Cork Race
Cork RaceYou will need one of each of the following items for each player. Many toddlers haven't yet mastered the skill of blowing through a straw, so you may want to save this idea for when your child is a little older.Materials Cork 9-inch by 13-inch baking pans Straw Directions read more
Eggbeater
EggbeaterTime 5 to 10 minutes Materials Plastic tub or bowlLiquid detergentHand-cranked eggbeater Directions The eggbeater is a tool that is safe, noisy, and fun to use. Fill the tub with water and add a squirt of liquid detergent.Then step back and let your child experience the fun of a hand-generated motor. Extensions read more
Fizzy Bath Balls
Fizzy Bath Balls Makes four to six balls Age group: 18-40 months Duration of activity: 10 minutes Materials: 1 cup baking soda 1/2 cup citric acid 1/2 cup cornstarch 2 tablespoons coconut or almond oil 1 tablespoon water Liven up your child's bath time with these homemade fizzy bath balls. Your toddler can also participate in making them! read more
Michelangelo's Bathroom
Michelangelo's BathroomTry this idea if your child hates getting water on her face when you wash her hair. Materials Colorful pictures Tape Directions Tape some colorful pictures to the ceiling over your bathtub. (Old calendars are a great source for these.) Your child can look at the pictures and talk with you about them as you wash her hair. Unless she has a favorite, change the pictures often to maintain interest. read more
Paddleboat Voyage
Paddleboat VoyageMaterials Scrap block of wood: 4" x 8" x 2" Thin strip of wood: 2" x 8" x ¼" 2 long nails Rubber band small and thick Hammer Sandpaper Directions read more
Soap Crayons
Soap Crayons Makes 12 crayons Age group: 18-40 months Duration of activity: 15 minutes Materials: 1 cup soap flakes or powder 3 tablespoons of water Washable tempera paint Ice cube trays or small Dixie cups (for molds) This activity combines an opportunity for creative expression with bathtub fun. Your child can use these crayons to draw on the tile or on himself! read more
Soap Crayons
Soap CrayonsThese are fun to write with in the tub or to use when washing little hands. Materials 1 1/2 cup pure soap powder (Ivory Snow) Food coloring 1/2 cup water Small containers or ice cube tray Directions read more
Tub-Sponge Sculptures
Tub-Sponge Sculptures Materials Assorted sponges Scissors Water-resistant glue, such as Elmer Stix-All Directions Cut the sponges into geometrical shapes. Involve your child in deciding which pieces to use to build interesting shapes: boats, ice cream cone, house, people, pets, or abstract sculpture. Glue the pieces together. Let the glue dry completely before playing with the shapes in the bathtub. read more
Tugboat
TugboatMaterials A quart milk carton Empty wooden matchboxes Tube from toilet paper roll Glue Directions Cut the milk carton in half, lengthwise, to make the boat bottom (hull). Glue two of the matchboxes together to make the cabin. Glue the toilet paper roll to the back of the cabin to make the smokestack. Finally, glue the cabin and smoke stack onto the bottom of the boat. See if it will float in the bathtub. read more
Water Balloon Catch
Water Balloon Catch Materials Balloons Water Directions Fill several balloons with water and play catch with them. Use sidewalk chalk to draw a target on the sidewalk and aim for that instead. read more
Water Play for Toddlers
Water Play for ToddlersThis bathtime variation is great for long, rainy days. Materials Plastic baby bathtub Bath toys Directions Sit your diapered child in an empty bathtub. Fill a plastic baby bathtub or other large container with water and set it beside your child. Provide an assortment of bath toys that she can play with. (Cups, spoons, bowls, funnels, empty squeeze bottles, a plastic teapot, and sponges all make excellent water play toys.) read more
Waterfall Game
Waterfall Game Materials Pennies Bowl, cup, or other container Water Directions Fill a container almost to the top with water. Give each player a supply of pennies. Take turns dropping a penny into the container. The game ends when one player drops in the penny that makes the water overflow. read more
