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Home › Articles › Development › Beyond the Bubbles

Beyond the Bubbles

Bath Time Makes Learning Fun

By Laura Cone

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Janie H. Humphries, a professor and coordinator of the Early Childhood Education program at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La., says language needs help toddlers connect what they are doing.

"At lunch time, bath time, when you are helping them change their clothes, you want to say what you are doing," says Humphries, who is an expert in early childhood teaching methods.

While bathing a child, name the parts of the body. "The language makes so much more sense to them," Humphries says.

While in the bathtub, keep the conversation going by alternating between imagination and concrete subjects. "Talk about water, talk about water being cold, putting water on head, getting clean," Humphries says.

Bath time is also a time to develop social skills and eye-hand coordination, she says. Your toddler might see the water running, want to feel the water running and will realize he or she will eventually be coordinated enough to stick his or her hand under the water, Humphries says.

"You want to encourage the child to do things," she says. "They are going to mimic what you are doing. You want to talk and describe what you are doing."

Finally, toddlers learn to trust the adults in their lives during everyday activities, but especially during bath time when they may be afraid of water. It's important for your toddler to know you will be there to protect and care as well as talk, share and play.

After making a big splash in the tub, expect your toddler to help clean up and put toys away. Then you may enjoy a hot bath of your own as your toddler heads off to naptime.

Turn the Bath into an Imagination Boat

Some parents find it difficult to get their toddler into the bathtub. But by putting on your sailor thinking hats, it's easy to persuade your toddler to explore the great big seas in your own home.

The following are a few tips for making the bathtub a desirable place to learn as well as clean:

  • Stick a plastic map of the world on the wall and use bath-friendly paint to chart a make-believe course to different imagination islands.
  • Take a lid to a pot from your kitchen. Try to find a big lid which your toddler can use as a steering wheel in the tub to maneuver his or her boat.
  • Collect different seashells and sand dollars for your toddler to handle in the bathtub. Make sure they are not sharp by rounding off the edges prior to bathtub playtime.
  • Bring a small fishing-like net into the bathtub and teach your toddler how to fish for his or her toys or shells. Throw in a few large toy gold coins and let your child put them in a plastic toy treasure box.
  • Play music, but keep the radio or CD player and electric cords away from the water. If possible, play music that relates to the theme of the day such as a CD with sounds of the ocean.


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