1. Get a Book: There are plenty of waterproof books that are bath time friendly. Books can help solidify a bath time routine while remaining fun and unique – who doesn’t love a floating, waterproof book? I suggest Scrubba Dub Dub with Daddy Duck; this sweet book is an easy read and the illustrations will bring the singsong-like words to life. http://www.daddyscrubs.com/all-products/bookstore/children-s-books/scrubba-dub-dub-with-daddy-duck-bath-book.html

2. Make Bath Paint: Bath paint can easily be made with shaving cream and food coloring yet is such a fun activity. Kids will love “painting” the walls of the tub with the shaving cream paint, and it cleans up easily, too. Learn more about shaving cream paint at The Imagination Tree Blog: http://theimaginationtree.com/2012/02/shaving-cream-bath-paint.html

3. Choose Cups, Spoons and Strainers: Many kitchen and cooking utensils can make bathtime extra fun. Grab items such as: spoons, plastic measuring cups, a strainer, a ladle, new sponges and anything else you think might be fun and let your child play and learn as they fill the items up with water and poor the water out again and again.

4. It’s All About the Bubbles: Who doesn’t love a good bubble bath? Pick up some extra sudsy kid-friendly bubble bath of your choosing and add some bubbles to your child’s next bath. Bubbles allow for plenty of fun, and with so many soothing scents to choose from they may even help your child wind down for the evening.

There are lots of easy ways to make bath time even more fun for kids!

Happy parenting!

Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 7, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents. Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddy & Co., delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel, and the Daddy & Co. blog where he covers topics about parenting all from a Dad’s perspective.

The post Easy Ways to Make Bathtime Fun appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Having been through this a few times myself as a father of now 7, I can relate to the frustration parents feel when their child won’t shower.  It’s important to explain to your child why we need to shower, what happens if you don’t, and that doing it regularly on your own is part of growing up.  Many kids want to be seen as grown up and mature so telling them that this is a way for them to demonstrate that they’re not a little kid anymore and are maturing, will also help.  A few ideas that have worked for our family:

Reward/Consequence

Know your child, what motivates them; some respond better to rewards and others to consequences, and then decide which rewards or consequences will resonate the most with the individual “stinky boy or girl” in question. 🙂

A few reward ideas for every shower your child takes without a reminder, depending on age and child, include: stickers, something from the treat jar, playing a game with mom or dad, extra 15 minutes of TV or gaming, or staying up a little later.  If your child is capable of handling a longer term reward, dangle a larger carrot, such as  a cell phone or a video game they want if they shower on their own without reminders for one month or longer. 

Tie consequences to not showering or arguing with you when you ask them to shower.  For example, no shower, nothing from the treat jar, less TV or gaming time, reduce or remove phone privileges, extra chores, or a monetary consequence such as charging $.50 for every day they don’t shower (be sure you collect or the impact will be lost).  

Buy-in

Get your child’s buy in to showering daily by letting them take some ownership in the process, by, for example, choosing their own shower gel/shampoo, or towel, letting them play music in the bathroom while they shower, etc.  Sometimes the little things can make all the difference.

Most kids eventually will get there on their own, but a little motivation along the way, certainly can’t hurt. 

Sincerely,

Daddy Nickell

Daddy Nickell, father of 7, founder of Daddyscrubs.com and the Daddyscrubs parenting blog.

The post How to Motivate your Growing Child to Shower appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.