Coloured baths

For the past few weeks the children have been insisting on having food dye in their baths. I am finding that is really helping with them understanding colour mixing/blending. 

I get two clean juice or empty milk bottles and fill one with one primary colour (for example yellow), and the other with another primary colour (for example blue) and I ask each child to wait their turn to empty their bottle in the bath (ta-da, green water). The children find it pretty spectacular and somewhat magical. It doesn't seem to stain their skin or the bath, so everyone is happy and they are learning while they play.   

Washing Babies

A beautiful warm sunny winters day in Brisbane, so I decided a bit of water play was in order. Finn has enjoyed this activity from a young age, and Evie loves playing with dolls.

I set up a tub with some warm water with a few drops of bubble bath solution. I gave them a selection of plastic 'babies' to wash, some sponges, towels to dry and a change of dolls clothes. 

It entertained the two of them washing, playing and chatting side by side. 

This activity helps promote gentleness, how to care for something, mirror adult activities, and help with fine motor skills (when dressing & undressing their dolls). Playing with water is also very soothing for children.

Car Washing Service

A simple and fun activity for toddlers is setting up an outdoor car wash for them. 

You can use outdoor toddler cars, trikes or balance bikes, a bucket of soapy water and a variety of clean rollers and sponges in a little bag.

Setting up a cash register on a table and tickets to hand out is also fun, as is using an electric fan to drive past for the final stage of drying.