In this blog, Speech Pathology Lead Aria May explains how bathtime is a great opportunity to support social communication with your child.
Bathtime can be a great opportunity to bond, support social communication and has other learning benefits too.
Often daily routines are a juggle and require a certain amount of multitasking from mums, dads and caregivers to get the job done and stay sane! A bath at the end of the day sounds very relaxing in theory. The reality may look very different. You may be running late from work, dinner needs to be cooked at the same time, the kids and you are hungry and tired from a long day. Despite these juggles, bathtime can be a fun bonding activity for you and your child. Bathtime is one of those rare moments in the day where your full focus is crucial as you focus on your child’s safety near water. This distraction-free time can be a good opportunity to connect and have meaningful interactions.
Bathtime involves all the senses and can be a special time for children. There is lots of fun to be had - from smelling soap, feeling the warmth of the water on the skin, touch and watching the water flow in or out. Moving water and splashing about is really stimulating too.
So what’s so great about bathtime?
It just feels good! Bathtime and water play in general can be relaxing and invigorating. It can have great benefits for wellbeing – there is a reason why we dream of having that elusive moment to unwind and have a bath as adults!! There are physiological changes including slowing down of the heart rate and blood pressure. Some research has shown a bath before bedtime can really set children up for a relaxing night’s sleep.
Invigorating: Using different soaps and shampoos with different scents can be a relaxing or exciting part of the routine and stimulates your sense of smell. Just be aware of any allergies, skin or sensory sensitivities your little one may have when experimenting with different products. Some children are very sensitive to different scents and may prefer non-scented products. You know your child best.
Mini scientists: If you have empty containers lying around the house (yogurt pots, ice-cream containers or milk bottles) you can begin to fill and empty them with pouring – introducing early maths concepts. You can talk about ideas like which container is bigger, smaller, heavier, lighter, full or empty. These sorts of experiences encourage your child to be curious and wonder about the world – and supports their problem solving.
Getting physical: When your little one fills and empties containers with water and helps cleans different body parts, there are opportunities to practice building bilateral and hand-eye co-ordination and learning how to use hands.
Connecting through touch: Bathtime has in-built opportunities for skin-to-skin contact, something we know promotes connection with your baby or little one.
Developing body boundaries: Bathtime is a great time to start to develop independence by encouraging your child to wash themselves when and where they can. This helps to introduce the idea that they are in charge of their own body and that they are the boss when it comes to who touches them. Using anatomically correct names for body parts can support your child with their confidence, body image and is a foundation skill for protective behaviours.
Chatting: There are lots of opportunities to talk about things while in the bath – from using describing words like ‘big’ and ‘wet’ or action words like ‘clean’ or ‘splash’. Talking to your child and them hearing lots of different words will help their language grow over time. You might also like to sing songs in the bath if your child likes this too.
So predictable… Bathtime gives stability and predictability to the day, helping your child to feel safe and supporting their regulation.
Bubbles! Speaks for itself… bubbles are always fun!
For some children, bathtime can be a tricky time of day. What might be going on for your child at these times?
- Bathtimes can be overwhelming from a sensory perspective. Children may not like the sensory elements – it may be too cold, too bright, smell weird, feel uncomfortable. Your child may be more sensitive to touch and not like certain feelings on their skin (whether that be rubbing or the water pressure).
- They may have had some not-so-great experiences – how annoying is it when soap gets in your eyes??!
Here are our top tips for bathtime success:
- Find a time that works for your child – if morning, night or anywhere in between. Bathtime doesn’t have to happen at the end of the day.
- Talk about what is happening next. For some children a visual schedule can be helpful.
- Find a bathtime routine and stick to it – to make the bathtime more predictable for your child.
- Be like Goldilocks and get the water and room temperature ‘just right’.
- Try and have your child’s ’s towel ready for after the bath – it can be chilly getting out!
- Experiment with the lights – you can try having a lamp on instead of the usually very bright bathroom lights.
- Use only bath products that your child is comfortable with – consider the smell and texture of them.
- Allow opportunities for growing independence in the bathtime routine (e.g., having two pyjama choices out for your child to choose, or choosing between two soaps).
- A water filled cup can be a good way to wash hair without it getting into eyes. Have an additional dry towel or wash cloth ready that you can put on your child’s face to keep it protected.
- Don’t have a bath if they don’t work for you. Showers can suit some children better.
- Incorporate your child’s interests into the bath – if they love animals, consider popping some animal bath toys in the bath.
Find what works for you to make bath time fun together!
References
Shahab Haghayegh, Sepideh Khoshnevis, Michael H. Smolensky, Kenneth R. Diller, Richard J. Castriotta. Before-bedtime passive body heating by warm shower or bath to improve sleep: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2019; 46: 124 DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2019.04.008