We’ve gone through a few bath toys in our home. As my daughters get older, I buy new toys. In an effort to cut back on costs, I’ve started looking for other ways to entertain my toddler in the bath. In doing so, I’ve also discovered some great ways to teach her as well.
For some cheap and educational play during bath time, let your toddler play with some kitchen items. Things like funnels, measuring cups, ladles, and containers. While your child is filling them up with water and dumping them out, you can teach opposites like “full” and “empty”. You can also use a container and a ball and have your toddler try to toss the ball into the container. This is a great way to teach hand-eye coordination.
When you’ve emptied a plastic bottle such a soda bottle, poke holes in the bottom. My daughter has a toy car with holes in the bottle and she loves watching the water comes out. This give you the same effect without the extra expsense.
Another thing I’ve reused is a baby shampoo or baby soap bottle. My daughter loves to fill up the bottle, and pour the contents into something else. Also, if you use the bottle that you squeeze (versus the pump), fill up the bottle and put the top on. Your toddler will love squirting the water out on other toys. My daughter also likes to squirt mommy at times.
One last thing I do involves no cost at all. Sometimes, I’ll call out a body part and ask my daughter if she can point to hers. When I’m washing her, I also describe what I’m washing, being sure to point out right and left. When she’s surrounded by toys, they are a distraction. But I can squeeze this is sometimes.
I hope these inexpesive ideas can help make bath time fun and entertaining.
