Bring non-tub toys into the fun:

• Large Lego blocks (duplo)—Not only is it fun to build underwater, but also the upside down the blocks make wonderful cups for pouring water back and forth.
• Plastic dolls—Action figures, fast food chain prizes, and plastic dollhouse people love to get wet too.
• Bubbles—Blow lots and lots of bubbles together. Enjoy watching the bubbles bounce on the surface of the water. Blow a bubble on the palm of your child’s hand for him to hold and squish.

Raid the kitchen for supplies:

• Ice—If you plan ahead, you can freeze some colored water (food coloring) in different sized containers. If not, regular ice cubes are fun too. Just get the tub water hot, add the ice, and explore the properties of water.
• Drinking straw—With proper supervision, your child will not drink all of the bath water. Instead he’ll be busy blowing bubbles under water or moving around ice cubes or coins.
• Kitchen items—Just like gramma used to do…grab a pot with a lid, a set of measuring cups, and colander from the cabinets and cook up some fun.
• Ziploc bags—Here’s a no mess way to enjoy holding water in a bag. Stick an action figure or ice cube in there too.
• Clean items from the recycling bin—There are all sorts of sizes, shapes, and colors of containers in the recycling bin. Clean some out and play store.

Gather some odds and ends:

• Paint brushes—Bring a small house painting brush, perhaps a foam one, into the tub and watch your child get to work.
• Lightweight scarf—A lightweight scarf from the dress up clothes stash will seem like an entirely new toy when wet. Your child will enjoy swishing it in the water, draping it over his body, and wrapping toys in it.
• Lights on and off with a flashlight or candles—Be prepared to do this one again and again. Light a candle or flashlight and turn off the lights. It a whole new experience. Watch your child’s reaction closely the first time that you try this to make sure that he feels safe.

Stay safe

Next: Bath toy safety: Reducing mold and bacteria

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