How To Make A Real Splash At Bath Time

December 30, 2001|By Stephanie Dunnewind The Seattle Times

Most kids rank taking a bath up there with eating spinach.

However, many young children have a blast splashing around once they're actually in the bathtub. It's still an effort convincing them to climb in, though.

But the bath is also a great place to study science, music and art -- as well as play -- in a contained, easy-to-clean spot.

There's even a book, Makin' Waves: Fun for Kids in the Tub, devoted to bath-time activities for ages 4 to 7.

Older kids can check out Bathtub Science by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone, which offers water-related experiments ideal for the tub.

Here, some ideas culled from Makin' Waves (Chronicle Books, $7.95), Bathtub Science (Sterling Publishing, $19.95) and other activity books for water fun:

One word, plastics: Besides store-bought bath toys, consider introducing plastic household items such as mixing bowls, colanders, measuring spoons and cups, spray bottles, ice-cube trays and watering cans.

Magic potions: Save small, differently shaped bottles of shampoo from hotels and let kids use them to make "potions" in the bath.

In color: Add food coloring to bath water, or paint the bathtub walls with washable paint. (You can make your own by mixing 1/3 cup baby shampoo with 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Divide into small cups and mix with a few drops of food coloring.)

Bubble, bubble: If it's too wet to blow bubbles outside and too messy to do it in the house, bring them to the bathtub instead.

Target practice: Squirt a water gun or throw a wet sponge at a target, such as the faucet or a shampoo bottle.

To the races: Make boats and hold races to see which can cross the tub first. See how many plastic toys can be piled in before the boat sinks.

Drum kit: Use plastic bowls or containers with lids or empty yogurt containers to create a percussion set. Fill them with different amounts of water. Play them with spoons or chopsticks.

Mr. Wizard: Do some experiments to find out what items float and which sink -- for example, a metal spoon vs. a plastic one. Try a piece of fruit or a toy.

Magic squares: Cut small squares of colored paper. Fold each corner into the middle and press down along the outer edges so you have a smaller square. Place the squares on top of the bathtub water with the folded side up. Your squares will open up as if by magic.

Just ducky: Give plastic dolls or toys a bath too.

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