At The Inspired Treehouse, we know that bath time is more than just a good time…it’s also a perfect opportunity for some great bath time sensory activities and motor play!
This post contains affiliate links. Read more.
10 Fun Bath Time Activities for Kids
Here are ten fun activities for kids to bring some adventure to bath time at your house…plus a bonus activity!
1 || Bring on the kitchen utensils!
Turkey basters to pinch and squirt, spoons to stir and scoop, slotted spoons for a rainfall, soup ladles to pour into cups, tongs to save sea creatures from the waves, etc. What do you have in your drawers that could make bath time even more fun and develop those fine motor skills along the way?
2 || Squirt guns and squirters!
Let your little ones mess up the tub wall with soap, shaving cream, or bath paints (draw, write letters and numbers, even smear it on their bodies!) and let them clean it up with their squirt guns and squirters! Kids will be elated about getting to use a squirt gun indoors!
3 || Goggles aren’t just for the pool!
Let your child put on a pair and use bathtub crayons to write his name on the bottom of the tub. Can he “swim” around and find his name? Let him dive for treasures like pennies, window clings or color forms on the bottom of the tub, or plastic sea creatures! A playful opportunity to use those Super Fingers to develop fine motor skills by peeling, pinching, and grasping!
4 || Water balloons!
Let them use those muscles to throw them against the tub wall before getting in! Tape a target on the wall for them to hit. If they don’t throw hard enough, the balloons will simply fall into the bath water to be retrieved and used again! Make sure to remove the balloon remnants prior to jumping in the bath!
5 || Save your empty water bottles!
Let your kids attempt to fill them up with water in the bathtub. Use those big muscles to hold the bottles down under the water to fill them up. Then pour them out (on heads, bellies, backs, toes:) and do it again! Side note…if you hold an empty water bottle with a top on it under the water and let go…it comes flying up for a splash, and most likely a giggle to go with it!
6 || Straws
So many ways to use straws in the bathtub for an oral motor skill boost! Add bubble bath or body wash in the water and let them go to town blowing up the bubbles using their straw! Or, have them use the straw to try to blow their rubber ducky or sail boats from one side of the tub to the next!
7 || Car wash!
Let your little ones bring their favorite matchbox cars into the tub and scrub them clean. Get a good lather going (and some great sensory play!) with soap, shampoo, or shaving cream – try using paintbrushes to get into the little spaces!
8 || Sponges, washcloths, and water balls
Toss some of these cool water balls into the bathtub for a great workout for little hands and fingers! Have a race to see who can fill a bucket or cup first by squeezing water into it from a sponge!
9 || Bubble Wrap
Secure down a layer of bubble wrap on the bottom of the tub for a fantastic texture experience for their whole body. Let them have some fun popping with their fingers and toes!
10 || Turn out the lights!
Try it and bring in the glow sticks! Put them on their ankles, wrists, or wear them as headbands. Put them around faucets, shampoo bottles, rinse cups, even mom or dad! A true visual experience!
Bonus: Bath Play Dough
This fun bath play dough smells amazing with a calming lavender scent – perfect for bath time play!
[…] 10 Fun Bath Time Activities for Kids […]