One of the things I love the most about being a mom is bath time. I absolutely adore giving my kids a bath. They both really enjoy it, it is innocent every day fun, and it is a great time to bond. However, I realize that sometimes bath time is just business and not all kids find it fun. Some kids need a little more encouragement, and on occasion may need to be pried away from more interesting things to get into the tub. Sometimes it just requires a little extra work to get the fun going on our part.
I think the biggest part of making bath time fun for kids are the toys. I can not stress enough how much bath toys can help your cause. Little rubber fish that squirt water out of their mouths; a plastic boat with little pirates hanging out on it; a suction cup basketball hoop with mini foam basketballs. They really make an incredible variety of bath toys these days! Not only that, but anything water proof can be made into a bath toy. My oldest likes to take his matchbox cars and fast food toys into the tub with him. Most days when I tell him it's bath time, he will go running into his toy room saying "I'm going to find a toy to bring!" These toys will strike up your child's imagination and really get the fun going. I simply love to listen to the adventures my boy makes up while he pushes his toys around the water.
We also cannot forget about bubbles! They are a classic part of bath time that every kid likes. To really go above and beyond, these days you can even buy bath dyes (time to take a purple bath!), bath foams, bath crayons and markers, even bath finger paints! You can't go wrong when you have so many options to choose from. My oldest loves the opportunity to get away with coloring on the walls, and on the tub.
If you have a difficult bather, sometimes it's just a matter of finding out what bothers them about the bath. Perhaps they prefer warmer or cooler water? Maybe they would like to have more or less water in the tub? I know a lot of kids that have an extreme dislike for getting water in their faces. You can use a wash cloth over their eyes and have them tilt their head back when rinsing hair. They even make special products for these types of kids. One is a special cup that is flat and flexible rubber on one side that forms to the forehead to keep the water out of the face, and the other is like a visor for the bath that also keeps water from touching the face. It is so nice to have helpful products for sensitive kids.
Bath time should always be a fun time for kids and parents alike to embrace. Between the laughs and the smiles, the adventures and the bubble beards, it should be enough to lift anyone's spirits. Hold onto those sudsy moments, and make them fun and enjoyable, because our kids wont want us to bathe them forever!
I think the biggest part of making bath time fun for kids are the toys. I can not stress enough how much bath toys can help your cause. Little rubber fish that squirt water out of their mouths; a plastic boat with little pirates hanging out on it; a suction cup basketball hoop with mini foam basketballs. They really make an incredible variety of bath toys these days! Not only that, but anything water proof can be made into a bath toy. My oldest likes to take his matchbox cars and fast food toys into the tub with him. Most days when I tell him it's bath time, he will go running into his toy room saying "I'm going to find a toy to bring!" These toys will strike up your child's imagination and really get the fun going. I simply love to listen to the adventures my boy makes up while he pushes his toys around the water.
We also cannot forget about bubbles! They are a classic part of bath time that every kid likes. To really go above and beyond, these days you can even buy bath dyes (time to take a purple bath!), bath foams, bath crayons and markers, even bath finger paints! You can't go wrong when you have so many options to choose from. My oldest loves the opportunity to get away with coloring on the walls, and on the tub.
If you have a difficult bather, sometimes it's just a matter of finding out what bothers them about the bath. Perhaps they prefer warmer or cooler water? Maybe they would like to have more or less water in the tub? I know a lot of kids that have an extreme dislike for getting water in their faces. You can use a wash cloth over their eyes and have them tilt their head back when rinsing hair. They even make special products for these types of kids. One is a special cup that is flat and flexible rubber on one side that forms to the forehead to keep the water out of the face, and the other is like a visor for the bath that also keeps water from touching the face. It is so nice to have helpful products for sensitive kids.
Bath time should always be a fun time for kids and parents alike to embrace. Between the laughs and the smiles, the adventures and the bubble beards, it should be enough to lift anyone's spirits. Hold onto those sudsy moments, and make them fun and enjoyable, because our kids wont want us to bathe them forever!
