10 Easy Ways to Make Bath Time More Fun for Kids

We have several bath books that Drew likes, but when it comes time for actually getting in the tub he can be extremely uncooperative.  Over the years, I've tried just about everything to make the tub a more appealing place.  Of course, we've bought bath toys and bathtub crayons and markers, but the novelty wears off quickly and who can afford to buy a new bath toy for every bath?

1. Homemade Bath Paint  I first saw this mixture of shaving cream and food coloring at Meet the Dubiens.



2. Sink or Float Game We grab different waterproof toys or other objects from around the house and guess whether they'll sink or float in the tub.

3. Dissolving Capsules My son is in love with these things. The little capsules dissolve in water and a bug (or animal or dinosaur) shaped sponge comes out.  They aren't really meant as bath toys, but we've dissolved them right in the tub.  (I get these from the dollar store.)

4. Plastic Easter Eggs We threw a few of these in the bath and the kids love filling them with water and then cracking them open.

5. Water Beads  I've put a few handfuls of these in the tub with the kids too.  If you're not familiar with them, they are absorbent polymers usually used for floral arrangements.  You can find them at craft stores like Michaels.  My dollar store even has them now.  (It's VERY important to supervise kids who are playing with water beads. Or are in the bath, for that matter. Don't give these to children who still put things in their mouths, even with supervision.)

6. Tattoos Fake, of course!  We've used these to lure the kids into the tub on a few occasions.  I got a huge pack of them from Walmart for a dollar.

7. Bubbles But not the usual kind you associate with baths.  The kind that are usually reserved for outdoors only.


8. Spray Bottles

9. Colored Ice Cubes Mix water and food coloring and freeze it in ice cube trays. (You have to adjust the temperature of the bath to compensate for the ice, obviously.)


10.  Colored Bubble Bath Growing a Jeweled Rose  shows you how. She also has lots of other ways to make bathtime fun, like sensory baths!

And a bonus (which we haven't actually done):
11. Glow Bath  at Play at Home Mom. Drew does not like baths or the dark so put them together and...well, I think we'll hold off on this one. Looks like fun though!

And some of our favorite bath-themed books:

Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Farm is about how Duck, Cow, and Pig have had it with all the baths Mrs. Wishy-Washy gives them!  They run away and head off to the city where they are completely out of their element.  After being chased out of a restaurant and blundering through a hardware store where they get covered in paint, they find themselves in animal jail.  They discover that that being cared for by Mrs. Wishy-Washy isn't so bad after all.



In Troubles with Bubbles all the farm animals get dirty on the playground.  The zookeeper tells them to take a bath but they create too many bubbles.  The repetivite, predictable text makes this a good book for babies, preschoolers, and beginning readers.


A book that we actually take into the bath with us is Baby Einstein: Water, Water Everywhere.  It describes all the different types of water.  (We've had this since Drew was a baby and Lainey loves to "read" it herself.  She turns each page and says, "One day..." and describes what's happening in the picture.)

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17 comments:

  1. Great ideas!! I love the idea of the Easter eggs in the bath too! Thanks for sharing! I love how you pair great books with your posts! so awesome!

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  2. Great ideas! Thanks so much for the link to Growing A Jeweled Rose :)

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  3. I am now following you as well. I was on Facebook, but not the blog. Loving your site :)

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  4. I definitely need to try the water beads. I've seen them at Michaels and they look like they would be a ton of fun to play with. I love the connections to the literature. Thanks so much for sharing at Whimsy Wednesdays.

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  5. My little guy LOVES baths, but I think I'll try some of these ideas out just for fun! It's a good way to distract him when we can't go outside.

    Erin
    takingtimetocreate.blogspot.com

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  6. Great ideas!! I just wanted to let you know that I am passing on the One Lovely Blog Award to you. You can get more info at http://craftymomsshare.blogspot.com/2012/04/getting-ready-for-easter-and-award.html.

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  7. Great list of fun bath ideas. Our favorite is the glowing bath. We've done this and it's a hit.

    Veronica @ http://watchmeplaynlearn.blogspot.com/2012/04/easy-to-make-marshmallow-eggs.html

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  8. Amazing ideas! Thanks for sharing them!

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  9. LOVE these ideas! SO fun!
    Coming to Visit from Tip Junkie and very glad I did! :)

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  10. Love you list of ideas! Aiden loves taking baths, but he always has to have toys. He usually brings buckets, cups, and any other plastic toys that I will let him. His favorite thing to do is fill and empty the cups over and over again. His latest request is bubbles (just regular bubble bath bubbles).

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  11. What a great list - we don't do much when they are in the bath as by the time it comes to that part of the day we're all so tired I really should take them during the day for a fun bath

    Thank you for linking to Tuesday Tots this week

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  12. These are great! My little one is a water freak.. baths, pools, sinks, buckets whatever it is he's into it.. I am definitely doing the shaving cream and the Easter eggs.. I happen to have a dozen or so plastic eggs left over from the other day :)Thanks for the ideas.

    Jessie @ http://thethriftinessmiss.blogspot.com/

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  13. Ah those are great ideas, thanks for sharing
    (we need help)! I would love for you to share this (and any other creations) at my new linky party "Pin It and Win It Wednesday" @www.cheapcraftymama.com!

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  14. My kids love a colored bath, I just put a few drops of food coloring in the tub.

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  15. Some great ideas, Lorie! We have been enjoying bath tea parties at my house. That and just bringing anything from her kitchen in to play with the water. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!! I hope you are having a great week!!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!