We love to make bath time a special and fun activity. We've tried a lot of different ideas over the years. Here are a few of my kid's favorites! 

  1. Empty containers and plastic ice cubes. Combine science and bath-time fun all in one. Talk about how each item floats or sinks and practice pouring skills.
  2. Colored water is always a joy! Try a red bath on Valentine's Day and a green bath on St. Patrick's day. Just a few drops of food coloring won't stain the tub or the kids.
  3. Write on craft sticks and stuff those inside water balloons. When your child pops the balloon (always fun!) she gets a sweet message from you!
  4. Put water balloons in the tub. We've experimented with putting all sorts of things in the balloons so it's always a surprise. Try food coloring for a burst of color when you pop the balloon, small toys, and even marshmallows.
  5. Colored bath ice cubes. These are really fun to watch melt and see the colors swirling around. To make the cubes, simply add a few drops of food coloring into the water in your ice tray and freeze.
  6. If you want to go a little wild, try a swamp bath! My boys were crazy about this, but it is a bit of a mess to clean up. Boil spaghetti noodles. Using food coloring, mix a bowl of blue noodles and then a bowl of green noodles, then add to a tub of green-colored water. Add in “swamp creatures,” many of which we found at our local dollar store. This is a great sensory experience and so fun for the kids.
  7. Add unique bath toys. We take all sorts of toys in the tub. Favorites are tools from the kitchen, such as a turkey baster, cups, and strainers. Try a theme such as “ocean play” or “dinosaur land.
  8. Shaving cream tub paint. Mix food coloring in with shaving cream for a colorful and fun art experience in the bath.

Fun Bath Tip: Make your child's birthday extra special with a birthday bath! String balloons all around the tub and hang streamers from the ceiling overhead. Top off with a “happy birthday” banner and watch your child laugh with delight. Read more ideas for ways to bring joy on your child's birthday!