Getting young children to take a bath can seem like a nightmarish task for many parents. Some kids just don’t like taking a bath.
If you’re lucky enough to have a child that doesn’t immediately balk about getting in the tub and hide in the closet or under the bed, you still may have the challenge having a child that doesn’t want to stay in the bath for too long.
However, there are some ways to make bath time fun for kids, and many of them are simple. They might not have your kids begging to take a bath, but they should make bath time much more enjoyable for them and easier for you.
1. Glow In The Dark Bath
Photo credit: Disney Pixar
Most kids love moving lights that they can play with – meaning most kids love glow sticks. To keep your kids interested (or distracted) during bath time, dimming the lights and adding a few glow sticks to the water may be all you need. Kids can toss them and play with them in the water, and you’ll have enough time to get them clean.
Glow sticks are inexpensive and can be found many Dollar Stores. If your kids really love them, buy your glow sticks in big packs – that way you can grab a few whenever it’s bath time.
(Complicated Mama note: Check out this super cool Outer Space Themed Bath on Growing A Jeweled Rose! – It. Is. AWESOME.)
2. Bathtub Crayons and Paints
A lot of retail stores that sell toys for kids also sell bath crayons and paints that will wash off, and they’re a great way to keep your kids entertained since they can draw or finger paint while getting their bath; however, spending money on these toys really isn’t necessary.
Colored shaving cream makes perfect bathtub paint.
Photo credit: Flickr
To make your own bath paints, all you need is a bit of inexpensive shaving cream or foam and some no-sugar added, water-soluble food coloring. The color foam will wash right down the drain with a splash of water after the bath.
3. Ice Cube Toys
Making ice cube toys that your child can play with in the bath is so simple and effective— it’s pure genius. The idea behind ice cube toys is that you can actually freeze small toys – think army men or smaller – in ice cube trays.
Photo credit: Flickr
To make them even more fun, you can combine a small amount of no-sugar added food coloring or colored bubble bath to the water before making the ice cubes. As the ice cubes dissolve, your child will have a toy to play with.
Best of all, it only takes about five minutes to make a batch of these. Get plastic ice cube trays that come in neat shapes, like stars, crescents or squares, for even more bath time fun.
Unique ice cube trays make bath toys even more fun for kids.
4. Building Blocks
Lego Duplo Starter Kit- $19.99
Simple building blocks, such as Legos, are perfect for bath time. Kids can build underwater castles or even long, winding structures on the edge of the tub.
When bath time is over, all you need to do is rinse them and let them dry on a towel. After they’re dry, they can be stored and used again, in or out of the bath.
Building blocks can be used in the tub and rinsed before air drying them on a clean towel.
5. Alphabet Soup Bath
Munchkin Alphabet Bath Letters, $6.99
If your child is loving their letter learning, why not continue that educational fun in the bath?
Like the glow sticks, alphabet letters are an inexpensive tub toy that could create bath time gaming fun! Quiz them on their letters or spelling and you can even reward them something to put in the tub, like bubbles or building blocks every time they answer a question correctly!
Just don’t make the game too long, and try to ask questions that are not too difficult. You don’t want bath time to feel like school.
(Complicated Mama Note: Check out how Crystal from Bath Activities For Kids created her alphabet soup bath game– super cute!!)
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About Our Guest Blogger:
Marcela De Vivo is a health and wellness writer from the Los Angeles area. She writes on everything from family health to supplements, fitness, and special needs education and inclusion. As a mother of three, she is always coming up with new activities so that her children will enjoy their bath time!
