TBGPF007 | Bath play (1-2)
By Dr. Rajeev Tamhankar
This baby bath activity engages toddlers in sensory play using colorful sponges and water. It promotes the exploration of concepts like wet vs. dry, floating vs. sinking, and tactile experiences like squeezing and touching. The activity fosters motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and imaginative play.
- Gather colorful sponges of various shapes and sizes. If unavailable, cut regular sponges into fun shapes (e.g., stars, fish, triangles).
- Fill a shallow container, tub, or bucket with water. Ensure it’s at a safe depth for toddlers.
- Place the sponges in the water and demonstrate actions like dipping, squeezing, and observing floating or sinking.
- Encourage toddlers to explore by asking guiding questions, such as:
- “Can you find the red sponge?”
- “What happens if you push it underwater?”
- Create a small race by moving the sponges across the water. Let the child mimic the movement.
- Highlight textures by comparing items: “This sponge is soft and wet, but this toy is hard and dry.”
- For toddlers aged 12-18 months, focus on naming colors, shapes, and simple actions.
- Sensory Stimulation: Enhances touch processing through textures and water play.
- Motor Skill Development: Strengthens hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
- Concept Learning: Introduces wet/dry, floating/sinking, and color/shape differentiation.
- Imaginative Play: Encourages creativity and independent exploration.
- Screen-Free Fun: Keeps toddlers entertained without gadgets.
- Use baby-safe sponges or ensure new, chemical-free kitchen sponges.
- Avoid using sponges on the baby’s body unless specifically for baby care.
- Engage toddlers with enthusiastic tones and simple, repetitive instructions.
- Customize the activity by incorporating your child’s favorite toys for added engagement.
- Keep towels handy to manage spills or cleanup.
- Baby-safe or chemical-free sponges.
- Scissors (to create custom shapes).
- Shallow container, bucket, or small tub.
- Optional: Non-toxic food coloring for added fun.
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