How to Make Bathtime Fun!

Make bathtime bigger and better by transforming it into a sensory wonderland, perfect for curious little ones!

Bathtimes fall firmly into the category of “why don’t you love this thing more?” for many parents. Because if someone was running us a deep bubble bath and telling us to relax for half an hour, we’d put up ZERO resistance.

While some little ones are natural water babies, others can be a little more... resistant. Whichever end of the scale your little one is at, we firmly believe there’s always a way to bring more fun into everyday moments. Soap-suds-in-eyes aside, here are some nifty ways to make bathtime infinitely more playful...

Sensory activities

Color, sound and smells: unleash the sensory army at bathtime to get your little one excited for their nightly splashtime!

A fantastic way to create an incredible sensory bath is to turbocharge the bath bubbles. Take some child-friendly soap, throw it in your stand mixer (or use an electric whisk) and fluff the soap until you have a huge stack of bubbles! We know, it sounds mad – and you’ll probably feel mad doing it – but add it to their bath and watch them delight in making swirling bubble shapes and sculptures. (Don’t forget to give them the obligatory bubble beard and snap a photo!).

Another brilliant way to transform bathtime into a sensory experience? Introduce lights and music!

Set up some colorful lights or a ceiling light projector (away from the water, of course), load up your little one’s favorite playlist, and throw in some glow-in-the-dark stars for a quick and easy way to make bathtime fun!

Weights and measures

At the LEGO Group, we know that playtime is intrinsically linked to learning. And while playtime shouldn’t feel like a lesson, there are still loads of fun things you can do that will enhance your little one’s learning and development, too. And that includes during bathtime!

Grab some empty shampoo bottles and tubs. Let younger children simply have fun filling and emptying their vessels – they’ll love the splashing! For older kids, try using prompts like “Which bottle is fuller, this one, or that one?”, “Which is heavier?” or “Do you think the water in this bottle can fill up that tub?” Not only will they be working on weights and measures but also their ability to estimate – and if you’re lucky, you’ll get their hair washed, too. Tick, tick, tick, and tick.

For added interest, try introducing tubing or funnels. There are lots of options out there that include suckers, so you can create a water-run on the wall for your child to explore!

Toys and games

The matted dolls’ hair, the moldy teether, the never-to-be-the-same again book; you know what we’re talking about. Kids LOVE to bring their favorite toys with them everywhere, and that includes the bath. The small issue here is that not all toys work well in water.

If you can, try to encourage the use of toys that aren’t damaged when damp. LEGO® DUPLO® bricks are perfect as they’re sturdy and are designed to stand the test of time. Pile them into the bath to let your little one create underwater worlds, or introduce a bath rack for them to build on. There’s something about playing with toys in water that gives them a whole new dimension, even if they’re old toys your child has almost forgotten about. Be prepared though, there are bound to be splashes galore!

Other waterproof winners include coated bathroom books, stacking cups, floating animals and stick-on shapes. Why not check out LEGO DUPLO’s very own bath set?

Outdoor bath!

This one’s a summer-only activity, but if you’re lucky enough to have outdoor space, why not surprise your little one with a change of bathtime location? If you have a portable baby bath, a paddling pool, or even a big washing-up bowl, fill it up with bath-warm water, add some bubbles and their favorite floating toys and bathe them, al fresco-style! Little ones will love the novelty of having their bath somewhere unexpected, plus you can water your garden with the water afterwards!

And when all else fails? Bring in the big guns: snacks. Let them enjoy some fruit that’ll float in the water (chopped to a size that’s appropriate for their age, of course) and watch as they enjoy the challenge of catching it. Happy splashing!