VroomTips
<p>Vroom distils early learning research into bite-size activities that support children’s brain growth from birth to age five. With the backing of the Bezos Family Foundation, vroom.org was developed by a group of dedicated scientists, community leaders and trusted brands, with input from community organisations and families, early childhood experts and neuroscientists.</p>
Bath Bottle
Bath Time
Give your child a clean plastic bottle to play with in the tub. How many different things can he/she do with it? Push it under the water? Fill it with water? Float it like a boat? As he/she tries something new ask him/her, "What do you think will happen?"
Your child likes to make things happen. And it's even more fun when you watch and share his/her pleasure by having him/her guess what will happen as he/she discovers more about his/her world and his/her impact on how things work. When he/she plays this way, he/she is thinking like a scientist.
Bath Count
Bath Time
When your child is in the tub, think of all the things you can count together. For example, the number of splashes he/she makes or the number of times you pour water on him/her. Take turns counting and talk about what you are doing.
Counting small numbers of things helps your child understand that numbers go in a sequence, from little numbers to big ones.
Bath Routines
Bath Time
Create fun and simple bath routines with your child. For example, every time you feel the temperature you can say, “Splish, splash!” When the bath is over, shake the washcloth saying, “Shake, shake.” Look for ways to add to the bath routine.
Regular routines marking the steps of bathing help your child know what to expect and what’s coming next. If you use these words in other ways (shaking salad dressing or drying dishes), you are helping your child apply what he/she has learned to new situations.
Bath Time Leader
Bath Time
As your child gets older, encourage him/her to take the lead at bath time. Ask him/her: “What will you need for your bath? A towel? Clean clothes?” When he/she is in the bath, you can ask, “What will you do first?” Invite him/her to choose which body part to wash and do it together.
Encouraging your child to take the lead in daily routines shows him/her that you believe he/she can do things independently, which helps him/her feel confident and capable. This helps your child to actively take on challenges and solve problems now and in the future.
Bath Time Stories
Bath Time
When your child is in the bath, make up a story about a child just like him/her who takes a bath too. You can say things like, “First, he/she washed his/her hair” while you wash your child’s hair, or “Then he/she splashed in the water,” and see if your child splashes too.
When you make up stories, you are introducing your child to creative ways of thinking while sharing lots of new words with him/her. He/She is learning focus and self-control as he/she listens closely, and making connections when he/she moves his/her body to your words.
Bath Time Weather Man
Bath Time
Use your child’s time in the tub to talk about the weather. Sprinkle water on his/her arms and talk about rain. Let him/her take a turn sprinkling rain on your arms. When you’re draining the tub, show him/her how the water looks like a tornado. Take turns opening and closing the drain to let the water swirl around.
Having conversations helps to build children’s brains—your child is learning new words, and learning about cause and effect when he/she sees the water go down the drain.
Dry Dance
Bath Time
As you dry your child, rub his/her fingers and toes one at a time. Name each one as you dry them and do a little dance! When you dry a pinky, shake your hand. When you dry his/her toe, stamp your foot. Make up a new move for each little finger and toe!
Being a part of the Dry Dance with you helps your child become more aware of his/her body, not to mention your playfulness and love. A loving, caring relationship with you supports your child’s developing brain and thinking.
Splish, Splash, Pour
Bath Time
Grab two cups before bath time. Give your child a cup and pour water from your cup into his/hers. Then ask your child to pour the water from his/hers back into yours. Count the number of times out loud and see how many times you can go back and forth!
Supporting children as they explore and discover will help them become learners for life. Counting out loud also helps your child build a stronger sense of numbers.