Information compiled by Elizabeth Comrie, MS, OTR/L, Tiffany Braman, LSW, and Stacy Bailey, EIS.
Bath time is more than just getting clean, it’s a great opportunity for children to build independence, practice communication, and develop important self-care skills. When you involve your child in simple bath time routines, you can help them gain confidence while making learning a natural part of everyday activities.
Learning self-care skills can start around 12-18 months Your child can begin to take part in bath time by taking off socks to prepare and helping gather bath supplies. By about 2-3 years old, children can take off most of their clothes on their own and enjoy washing up.
- Note: Playing dress-up games is great practice for dressing and undressing.
Hair washing can often be a struggle as laying back in the water or having water poured over the head are new experiences and might feel unsafe for a child. Singing hair washing songs, hanging an interesting item over the bathtub (like a mobile) to look at, or providing a sensory distraction like gently squeezing a child’s shoulder while rinsing can help in these cases.
Bath time is a great routine to work on following one-step directions like “wash your toes!”, “give me the soap,” “pop those bubbles,” or “turn on/off the water.” Offering choices such as, “big cup or little cup, boat toys or bath blocks, wash tummy first or back first, mommy’s turn or my turn to wash, helps build confidence and vocabulary!
Concerns?
If you have concerns about your child’s communication development, we encourage you to consult your pediatrician or developmental specialist.
Questions?
Have questions or want more information? Contact your Summit DD contact for additional support or resources.
