Bath Time with Achilles (and an Animal)
Fun little tricks to get recalcitrant kids into the bath
ADDED May 28, 2010
Does anyone out there have a child who occasionally resists bath time? Anyone? Anyone?
Or should I say: Everyone? I think almost all parents have to deal with the protest: "A bath? Again?"
As always, at Today Is Fun we want to use our wits to get our parenting way. To make the bath happen, we just frame it differently. We try to advertise the bath not as a required, annoying chore, but an opportunity for learning and for fun!
One trick is to have the kids magically turn themselves into animals. Animals have to get wet, too, right? The best part of this bath is encouraging your kids to talk about the animal they've chosen. "Oh, you're an elephant, are you? Well, let's clean your giant flappy ears? Do your tusks need some soap?" Involving an animal or two always manages to dampen my kids' protestations.
Another trick -- and this is also quite fune -- is Bath Time with Achilles. First of all, this game is an educational opportunity in that you can discuss the Greek myth with your young one. (In a nutshell, when he was a baby, Achilles was dipped into a magical bath by his mom. Any part of his body that was touched by the magic water made his body extra strong. The only part that didn't get dipped was his heel, where his mom held onto him. This became his Achilles' heel.)
In Bath time with Achilles, your child gets to choose a part of his or her body that will remain dry during the bath. Of course, the selection needs to be reasonable: an earlobe, a pinky finger, an elbow. (A torso or a backside could not be chosen.)
This game is fun because you and your kid work to have a successful bath without getting the off-limits body part wet. Talk it up, and try your best not to get any water on the earlobe (or whatever.) And if you make a mistake, well, what can you do? Your child still got bathed -- and you two can try again next time!
Have a great, fun and clean long weekend, people!
Or should I say: Everyone? I think almost all parents have to deal with the protest: "A bath? Again?"
As always, at Today Is Fun we want to use our wits to get our parenting way. To make the bath happen, we just frame it differently. We try to advertise the bath not as a required, annoying chore, but an opportunity for learning and for fun!
One trick is to have the kids magically turn themselves into animals. Animals have to get wet, too, right? The best part of this bath is encouraging your kids to talk about the animal they've chosen. "Oh, you're an elephant, are you? Well, let's clean your giant flappy ears? Do your tusks need some soap?" Involving an animal or two always manages to dampen my kids' protestations.
Another trick -- and this is also quite fune -- is Bath Time with Achilles. First of all, this game is an educational opportunity in that you can discuss the Greek myth with your young one. (In a nutshell, when he was a baby, Achilles was dipped into a magical bath by his mom. Any part of his body that was touched by the magic water made his body extra strong. The only part that didn't get dipped was his heel, where his mom held onto him. This became his Achilles' heel.)
In Bath time with Achilles, your child gets to choose a part of his or her body that will remain dry during the bath. Of course, the selection needs to be reasonable: an earlobe, a pinky finger, an elbow. (A torso or a backside could not be chosen.)
This game is fun because you and your kid work to have a successful bath without getting the off-limits body part wet. Talk it up, and try your best not to get any water on the earlobe (or whatever.) And if you make a mistake, well, what can you do? Your child still got bathed -- and you two can try again next time!
Have a great, fun and clean long weekend, people!
(And thank you to ginnerobot for the darling bath photo up above!)
| ages 2-7, Good for bathtime, |
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