Bath time is one of the highlights of our day (and not just because bedtime is just around the corner!) Right from day one, Gracie loved bath time and it seems to get a little longer every evening. There are some great bath time games that you can play with your baby and toddler to aid their development.
Baby:
Image Courtesy of Rhys Webber Flickr CC
Massage
As you’re washing your baby, you can use it as an opportunity to do some baby massage. We should never underestimate the importance of touch in our baby’s lives. It is vital for bonding, stimulates brain development, is very calming and can therefore help with better sleep patterns.
Body Part Naming
As you’re washing, tell your baby which part of the body you are washing. This will begin to develop your baby’s body awareness, which is their internal map of where they are in space and how they relate to the world around them. This is vital in developing your baby’s sense of identity.
Toddler:
Now that your baby is a bit older and able to sit safely in the bath, there are a range of activities and skills you can teach him.
Washing
Place a little bit of soap on your little one’s hands, show him how to rub them together and then ask him to wash a specific part of his body. Not only are you developing the vital skill of independence, you are also helping him use two hands together and reinforce his sense of body awareness.
Bubbles
Blowing bubbles for your baby in the bath is great fun for them. Encourage her to pop the bubbles. Show her how to use her index finger to pop the bubbles. This will teach her to use one finger at a time which is important for her fine motor skills and dexterity.
Image Courtesy of Julija Rauluševičiūtė Flickr CC
Crayons
Bath crayons are also a wonderful tool for teaching. Be careful that your toddler doesn’t eat them! You can teach concepts like colour and shape using bath crayons. Allowing your toddler to draw on the bath (with those special crayons!) will also develop his shoulder muscles which are important for fine motor development and as the crayons are quite small and chunky, they will also help him to begin developing that tripod grasp which he’ll need for writing.
