So Much More Than Bath Time

I used baby products by JOHNSON’S® to care for my little one as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #johnsonspartners #SoMuchMore

Bath time at our house is something that we all look forward to. For the kids it is a time to play and be silly, but for me it is so much more. It’s a time when we get away from the rest of the world, crank up some Reggae or Bluegrass music and just relax while spending distraction free time together. My kids are old enough now that they can sit and wash themselves in the tub (with supervision of course) and I love sitting back, listening to the music and watching them create their own little world in the water. Some days they become mini Picassos and turn the shower walls into murals. Sometimes they are deep sea divers searching for treasure on the tub floor, and then other times they stretch their imaginations in ways I can’t even begin to understand.

I cherish this time with each of them, and I know that it is just bath time, but you know what? It’s so much more than that. It is a time to rejuvenate, replenish and relax. It washes away stress and the craziness of the world around us and brightens their mood. But guess what? It also helps develop key learning skills too! Everyone knows that water play is a great sensory activity for kids, but did you also know that there are tons of other great learning opportunities to be had at bath time?  Here are just a few that I’ve found to be both stimulating and fun for my own little ones.

Singing songs.  Being a music geek, this one is my favorite. I majored in music theory and performance in school so it is naturally a big part of our everyday lives. Music is known to help stimulate parts of the brain responsible for memory, so we sing silly songs and act them out with our hands during bath time as well as listen to our favorite Pandora stations in the background. Music soothes and even lifts their mood when they’re feeling down.

Bubble play. Who doesn’t love bubbles? Not only do they add joy to bath time, they’re great for hand/eye coordination and learning about object permanence. They are also great for hiding “treasures” under and letting kids hunt for them!

Paint. I have written before about how fabulous bath paint is. The kids love it, and it lets them express themselves visually while being a tactile experience at the same time when they use their fingers. There are all kinds of bath paints out there and I have found the best kind is either homemade or a thick, lotion like texture that really clings to the walls without running.

Massage. Massage is something that parents should be doing at least weekly with small children and its benefits go far beyond just feeling good. When Judah first started his ABA therapy they sent a massage specialist over to give us a lesson in massage, and I had NO idea how therapeutic it actually is. It calms, helps circulation, attentiveness, sensory issues, and so much more! We do massage when the kids are fresh out of their baths with the recently reformulated JOHNSON’S® baby lotion and they just love it.

There are are many other benefits of bath time that go beyond what I talked about here, so check out this infographic brought to you by JOHNSON’S®. Next time your little needs a bath, go ahead and take your time and really work on bonding together, you will both love it!