Teaching Your Toddler - in the Bathtub

Toddlers learn amazingly fast and in the easiest ways. Teaching your toddler can be fun and rewarding. It can also be simple, easy and interesting for you as well as your toddler. By taking advantage of everyday places, objects and activities to teach your toddler, you are using your time wisely. One easy way to teach your toddler is to teach them while they are in the bathtub!

Bath time can be a struggle for many parents. Your toddler may be scared of the tub or they may not want to get out! By using this time to make learning fun, you also make bath time fun. And, by making it into a "lesson", you can easily end bath time when you need to. Since you will be supervising your toddler's bath time, you can use this time to reinforce the lessons your toddler has learned throughout the day. You can teach your toddler letters, numbers, colors and shapes. Here are some ideas on how to teach them in the bath tub and make it fun.

Foam letters and numbers - You can purchase a tub full of foam letters and numbers for fairly cheap at most stores. The foam letters and numbers will stick to the walls of the tub. You can use these to teach the names of the letters and numbers as well as teaching spelling and sounds. Take it easy and have fun with it! Line all of the letters up in order and sing the alphabet song. Have your toddler pick out certain letters and stick them up. Have them show you which letters they know and let them play. Playing equals learning at this age.

Stacking cups, colanders and containers - Pouring from one container to another is an important skill for children to develop. It not only helps with their coordination, it also helps to teach them about cause and effect. Allow your toddler to pour water from one cup to another. Have them pour water into a colander that you are holding so that they can see the water go through the little holes. Have them pour water from a larger container into a smaller and learn that the smaller one does not hold as much. All of these activities are fun games, but they are also teaching your toddler valuable lessons.

Bath Crayons - Colored bath crayons are pretty inexpensive to purchase and can be found in most stores such as Walmart or even ToysRus. Obviously, these are great teaching tools for your toddler. Draw shapes on the walls of the tub. Have your toddler tell you the names of the shapes. Draw letters and numbers as well. Write their names. Let them color too, as this will help teach them to control the crayons. Use the crayons to help teach colors as well. Color a red square and a blue square, then ask your toddler to point at the blue one. Ask them to pick out the yellow crayon and draw you a picture. The possibilities are endless. And, these crayons are made of soap so they are easy to clean up!

Colored foams and shaving cream - You can purchase colored foams in cans in the bath section of any store. These are basically shaving creams that are colored and are sensitive so they do not bother your toddler's eyes or skin. Use these foams to reinforce color learning. Also, you can use either the colored foams or even regular shaving cream to make an "easel" on the bath tub wall. Spread a layer of foam or cream evenly on the wall. Then, use your finger to draw shapes in the foam. You can do basic shapes, write letters, numbers or names, draw pictures or anything you want. Your toddler will have a great time drawing and erasing on this "easel" and will learn faster as they have fun.

All of these activities are easy and fun for both you and your toddler. The ways that you can teach your toddler in the bathtub are endless. The only limit is your imagination.