Waiting During Bathtime
Bathtime is an absolute joy for many toddlers, but for some it's a struggle. Keeping it engaging and fun is essential if you’d like to ensure that bathtime is a positive learning experience. Increase your child's ability to wait using games and activities that provide them with opportunities to build their self-control and develop patience.
Bathtime is an absolute joy for many toddlers, but for some it's a struggle. Keeping it engaging and fun is essential if you’d like to ensure that bathtime is a positive learning experience. Increase your child's ability to wait using games and activities that provide them with opportunities to build their self-control and develop patience.
• Self-Control Bubbles: Incorporate waiting practice by adding bubbles and wands to bathtime. Between blowing bubbles (and popping them!), encourage your child to count down from 5 or 10 with you, then blow more bubbles for them. Before you blow the bubbles, challenge the child to keep their hands back to let the bubbles pop on their own as they fall. Modify the game for an older child by increasing the requirements for self-control.
• Self-Control Bubbles: Incorporate waiting practice by adding bubbles and wands to bathtime. Between blowing bubbles (and popping them!), encourage your child to count down from 5 or 10 with you, then blow more bubbles for them. Before you blow the bubbles, challenge the child to keep their hands back to let the bubbles pop on their own as they fall. Modify the game for an older child by increasing the requirements for self-control.
• Toy Targets: Line up hollow, or very light, plastic bath toys on the edge of the tub. Have your child use a spray bottle, set to stream, to spray the toys until they fall off the edge.
• Toy Targets: Line up hollow, or very light, plastic bath toys on the edge of the tub. Have your child use a spray bottle, set to stream, to spray the toys until they fall off the edge.
• Hurry Up and Wait: Fill a spray bottle with water dyed with a bit of food coloring. Spray shaving cream on the tub or tile wall in blobs. Have your child spray the shaving cream with their spray bottle, set to stream. The shaving cream colors will drip slowly down the wall.
• Hurry Up and Wait: Fill a spray bottle with water dyed with a bit of food coloring. Spray shaving cream on the tub or tile wall in blobs. Have your child spray the shaving cream with their spray bottle, set to stream. The shaving cream colors will drip slowly down the wall.
• Duck, Duck, You: Place four to six toys, that float, in the water. Using a cup, slowly pour a bit of water on one toy, and say, "Duck...." Then pour it on a second toy, and say, "Duck...." Then pour it on either your child's hand, shoulder, knee, etc., and say, "You!" Vary the number of toys, as well as which body parts you include, before getting to your child’s turn. Let your child take a turn to pour water onto the toys and then onto your arms or hands.
• Duck, Duck, You: Place four to six toys, that float, in the water. Using a cup, slowly pour a bit of water on one toy, and say, "Duck...." Then pour it on a second toy, and say, "Duck...." Then pour it on either your child's hand, shoulder, knee, etc., and say, "You!" Vary the number of toys, as well as which body parts you include, before getting to your child’s turn. Let your child take a turn to pour water onto the toys and then onto your arms or hands.