 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Bath time’s not just for bubbles anymore! Few children complain about bath time when allowed to splash around. However, there are times when you'll have to rush Junior through the scrub down, but allow for variety occasionally with these fun ideas. Just remember that your child requires constant supervision near any water, including the bath tub. Water Music >Reuse old plastic drink bottles by putting about ½ cup dried beans (or un-popped popcorn, dry rice, dry oatmeal, dry pasta, etc.) inside, snugly replacing the lid and shaking to the beat of a fun song (like He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands or This Little Light of Mine). You can even fill a bottle half-way with water and listen to the way it shakes. >Use body percussion in the bath while acting out this rhyme with your child: I use my feet to go splash, splash, splash. (Sitting down, splashing feet) I use my hands to swirl. (Swirling hands in water) I use my mouth to blow the bubbles. (Blow the bubbles on the water) And I give my hair a curl. (Twist wet hair into a curl on top of the head – this is fun with a bath mirror and shampooed hair that stays how you position it!) >For a musical treat (ages 3 and up), fill several drinking glasses to various levels with water and use a pencil to tap on the sides. Listen for the different notes that are made. Put in a favorite song (maybe Let’s Spend the Day Together) and play the water xylophone with your child. Color my (Bath) World (9 months and up) Once your child can sit up in the bath and is becoming more observant of his/her surroundings, he/she will enjoy this activity. Add a couple drops of food coloring to your child's bath water. Be sure not to drop it too close to the child if already in the water, so as not to stain the skin. Unless you go "overboard", the water should be diluted enough not to stain your clothes, the washrag, or any toys. Remember to cap the food coloring and keep it out of the child's reach, though! I Spy on the You are My Friend CD is great for listening to and singing during a color bath! Variations: >your child may enjoy blending the color into the water once you drop it in, or you can surprise him/her by bringing him/her to the tub of colored water – Sing, This is the Way We Swirl the Color as you swish the color around. >question what will happen when you add a drop of a different color, then try it and talk about what you saw >if out of food coloring, sprinkle in some drink mix powder. At 10-15 cents a package it makes for cheap entertainment. Just make sure your child doesn't think he is now swimming in the largest bowl of cherry fruit drink ever and try to drink it! Bubbly, Bubbly Bath (9 months and up) Children love bubbles so instead of just making bubbles in the tub with bubble bath, offer your child a bubble wand and a small container of bubble solution if he or she is old enough to blow bubbles. Otherwise, blow bubbles all around him or her for a snowy effect. Lullabath If your child enjoys a bath, it can mark a soothing transition to bedtime. Add some lavender or chamomile baby bath to the warm water, use low lights (but adequate for visibility!) and enjoy lullaby music, such as You’ re an Angel. Depending on your baby’s age, some mothers have found success with colicky babies, by nursing them while mom and baby are in the bath. It is just too similar to the womb to resist falling asleep! (Just be sure you have a helper or everything set out to avoid waking your baby while you stumble out of the tub trying to hold your bundle!) Ice bath (12 months and up) No need for expensive bath toys if you have a working freezer. I came up with this when my 10-month-old seemed bored of her toys one night but enthralled with my ice water! Toss an ice cube into the tub and watch him/her try to pick it up. (As with any other small item -- even food -- keep both eyes on your child so he/she doesn't eat/choke on the ice.) The variations to this activity abound! >color the water before freezing into ice cubes >pour water into various-shaped small containers (you want to keep it small so you don't drastically lower the temperature of the bath water -- use small bowls, candy/soap molds, plastic eggs from Easter, plastic gloves, whatever) >talk about how the ice feels, looks, melts, etc. Bath Toys Aside from the numerous bath toys you can buy, your house, particularly your kitchen, is filled with items baby would love during bath time! Try plastic cups, bowls, plates, flatware, measuring cups (these double as nesting/stacking cups), measuring spoons, colanders, cooking utensils such as wooden spoons, whisks and any other safe object you think your child would enjoy! Homemade Bath Book Not a book for the bath, but about the bath...Take pictures of your child playing, getting hair, face and body washed in the tub. Arrange them in a plastic-sleeved scrapbook. Add captions or turn it into a story. Read this book throughout the day or week or whenever your child asks for it. Your child will love seeing him or herself in the book and may become more excited about bath time! A book such as this is great for any activity your child enjoys! For longevity, laminate it at a copy center. |
| Gina Moore, a.k.a. Mommy Nature, is a teacher by training and a mom (of two) by luck. She has 13+ years experience raising and educating children and now stays home with her toddler while running www.mommynature.com. MommyNature provides support for parents with articles and activity ideas while featuring family-friendly products like sling carriers. |
| PARENTING PAGE ARTICLE: BATH TIME FUN! By Gina Moore |