Exploring the Bathroom
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Looking for an indoor adventure? Explore the bathroom with your child.
If you need yet another way to spend some time inside, exploring different parts of your house is a great way to help keep your child entertained while also teaching them a little more about the house and the world in general. Help your child to learn what different things in the bathroom are for as well as letting them find things they can play with.
To start, you can work with your child to find toys that they can play with in the bathtub. If there are toys already in the bathroom, make sure they’re all collected together and help your child to decide if there are any toys they no longer need or play with. Next, work with them on finding any other toys that they can take into the bath. Teach them why some toys may not be appropriate for the bath as they will become ruined when put in the bath. Let them separate any toys that are appropriate or not into piles.
Next, show your child how to wash up after themselves. Show them the proper way to wash their hands. Show them how to scrub their own bodies when in the bathtub. Talk through why we do these things, and why it’s important to make sure you get clean everywhere. Let them pretend to wash themselves as if they were in the bath so they can show you what they’ve learned.
Beyond getting clean, you can also talk through items in the bathroom that are used to make yourself more presentable. Brushes or combs, toothbrushes and floss, and any other items that they use to take care of themselves. Have them practice combing their hair. Explain to them the importance of presentation to others, and why they should always put their best foot forward.
Use the mirror to show off different body parts. Have your child look in the mirror as you name different body parts and have them point to those items on their own body. Have them try to wiggle their nose, move their eyes from side to side, and blink their eyes. Being able to see what you look like in the mirror is a fun experience, so making funny faces or doing unusual things with your face is a great way to put a smile on their face.
Talk about all of the different textures that you see and feel in the bathroom. Is the floor smooth, or some other texture? A bathtub floor is generally a little bumpy to help people from slipping easily. How about the wall - what is it made of and does it get more slippery with water? Soap and shampoo are other items you can see or feel the texture of - talk through what those are. Do the same with other items that you have in your bathroom (i.e. towels).
Work on cleaning up your bathroom. Have your child help with washing and cleaning. Let them put water on the floor or other dirty areas and wipe them down. Let them clean the toilet by using the toilet brush to make things a bit cleaner. Don’t be afraid to let them make a bit of a mess while they clean - have them help to clean it up afterwards.
Look at closets or cupboards and discuss why there are certain items in there. Help them see the importance of those items and why they’re in the bathroom. Make sure that you keep cleaners and other items out of their reach. Have them show you why you might keep toilet paper under the sink, or extra essentials in the bathroom.
Explore everywhere in the bathroom and spend time helping your child to see the importance of it all. You’ll never know what your child might find interesting.
