Bathtime Activity: 12-18 Months

Toddlers in this age range continue to love seeing what effect their actions can have on things around them. During bathtime, he may love filling cups with water and then dumping them out. You can show him how to do this first if he hasn't discovered it on his own yet. You can even talk about the concepts of "full" and "empty" as you play. See if your toddler can help wash his face, neck, arms, etc. For example,  after you wash his tummy, say, "Here (handing him the washcloth). You try. Wash your tummy." He will probably love doing this! Even if he just pats his tummy or uses his hand instead of the washcloth, say "Great job! You washed your tummy! You're such a big helper." Continue singing fun bathtime songs; you may notice that he starts to "sing" along with you!

Possible Intervention Strategies & Supports

• Help promote early writing skills by encouraging your child to use bubbles and water to "draw" on bathtub walls. Soap crayons are another great way to introduce "prewriting" as you encourage your toddler to draw on himself, bath toys, or the tub walls with the soap. Try introducing the concepts of "down," ""up," and "round and round" as you model linear and circular strokes.

• Specialized bath seats, such as the one shown in the image to the right, are available if your child is unable to sit independently for bathtime and you can no longer safely hold him.

• If your child is afraid of bathtime or if the bathtub is too big of a space (which may make it too overwhelming for him), consider seating him in a plastic storage tub or laundry basket inside of the regular tub.

• For children who benefit from sensory stimulation, rolling them up in the towel like a "burrito" after their baths  allows a fun way for an adult to apply needed pressure to the arms, legs, and torso.

• Have your child help squeeze shampoo or soap from the bottle to help with small muscle development in his hands and fingers. You can also use this time to practice the concepts of upside down and right side up!

Tips

As your toddler learns how to move about more on his own, he may love playing the game of "chase" with you. As the bathtime routine nears its end, many toddlers think it's funny to run away from their parents just as they get out of the tub. Be mindful of this because a wet toddler could easily slip when he runs. Use a sturdy bathmat outside of the tub area so that he has something dry to stand on as he gets out, and try to wrap him up in a towel as quickly as you can to keep him warm. This is a great time to give hugs too as he's standing or sitting snuggled in a towel next to you!

Family Handout

Click here to download an editable one-page handout of this age range's bathtime activity, interventions, and tips.