Kids will want to hop in the bath! A collection of fun bath-time play ideas

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

The kids’ daily bath time.

It’s great when they hop right in, but when they say, “No! I don’t want to!” convincing them can be a real challenge.

When they just won’t get in the bath, it can leave you at your wits’ end.

So this time, we’re sharing ideas to make bath time fun for kids who say no to baths.

From homemade bath bombs and pretend play you can do in the tub, to toys made from recycled materials—there are plenty of bath-time play ideas that will make kids want to jump in.

Put them to use, and your daily bath time will turn into a fun part of the day!

Kids will want to take a bath! A collection of fun bath play ideas (11–20)

sponge toy

Let’s make bath time fun with easy-to-make sponge toys! You can use sponges from 100-yen shops or similar—any inexpensive kind is fine.

It’s best to choose ones that are as colorful as possible.

Remove the rough scrubbing side of the sponge, then fasten rubber bands in different positions.

For example, if you secure it in the middle, it becomes a bow; if you place the band about one-third of the way in, it looks like a fish! If you tie it around the center and cut slits on one side, you can make an octopus or a squid.

Rounding the corners slightly with scissors makes each toy even cuter.

With adorable toys to play with, kids will surely be more excited to hop in the bath!

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SAKI

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Handmade bath salts

https://www.tiktok.com/@azu_asobilab/video/7451179982426066194

Enjoy a science experiment too! We’ll show you how to make a DIY bath bomb that’s fun and educational.

Pour lukewarm water mixed with bath additive into an empty container like a yogurt cup until it’s halfway full.

Put your favorite small toy inside the container and freeze it.

If you can still see the toy, add more bath additive mixture.

Once it’s frozen, it’s ready! Have fun noticing how the color changes before and after freezing.

Depending on your child’s age, it’s also a great chance to explain why the color changed.

The frozen bath additive will come off easily if you dip it in warm water.

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kepiko

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Color-changing ice cream

The magical ice cream that changes color with ice water or hot water really sparks kids’ curiosity! This set lets them play “ice cream shop” in the bath, which would be especially tempting for children who already love pretend play.

It’s fun that the colors change differently depending on whether you pour ice water or hot water.

Since playing with ice water can get the room wet, it’s the perfect excuse to say, “Let’s play in the bath instead!” and gently guide kids to bathtime.

Help overcome bath-time reluctance through enjoyable play!

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SAKI

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Goldfish scooping

If you could do goldfish scooping at home—a game you can usually only enjoy at festivals—wouldn’t that make kids eager to hop in the bath? First, cut a milk carton into long, narrow strips, wrap them with vinyl tape, attach a mesh sink strainer, and you’ve got your scooper (poi).

For the goldfish to scoop, cut goldfish shapes from construction paper and seal them between layers of clear tape so they don’t get wet.

Once both are ready, float the goldfish in the bathtub and let the goldfish scooping begin! If you involve the kids from the goldfish-making stage, it can also boost their motivation since they’ll get to play with a toy they made themselves.

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stretchy foam

https://www.tiktok.com/@fusigiblue/video/7484159569816521992

This lets you have fun with bubbles in the bath! Regular bubbles are fluffy but don’t stretch, right? But these bubbles can actually stretch like slime and be shaped and moved however you like! It’s a bit tricky to use indoors, so if you say, “You can play with it when you take a bath,” it might naturally make kids want to hop in the tub.

The unique texture also supports the development of fine motor skills and the brain, so it’s not only a fun play item but also one that aids growth.

Try using this fun item to make bath time enjoyable, reduce bath-time resistance, and support development at the same time.

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SAKI

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