Bath Cups
Fill, tip, fill again. The simplest water lesson there is.
- Ages
- 8 mo–2 yrs
- Play
- 10–25 min
- Prep
- 2 min
- Mess
- barely any
- Energy
- calm
- Where
- in the bath
You’ll need
Things you probably have at home.
- a shallow bath
- a few cupsGet it on Amazon
Optional
- a spongeGet it on Amazon
- a colanderGet it on Amazon
- a funnelGet it on Amazon
How to play
Before you start: Shallow warm water and two or three cups of different sizes. That is the entire setup.
Fill a cup and pour it slowly down in front of them so they can watch the stream.
Hand them a cup and let them try. Most of it will not make it anywhere.
Pour water over the back of their hand so they feel it as well as see it.
Squeeze a full sponge out above the water.
Hold the colander up and let it rain.
What it helps with
Keep it safe
- Never leave a baby alone in the bath, not for a second, not even to answer the door. Babies can drown in a few centimeters of water.
- Keep the water shallow and warm, and test it with your wrist.
- Cups must be plastic, never glass.
Make it different next time
- Pour from a cup into a colander and let them watch it vanish.
- Stack the cups and knock them over into the water.
Cleanup: It is the bath.
Three more like this
Learn something
Bath Pouring Station
15–40 min 12 mo–6 yrs Low mess- a bath, sink or tub of water
- cups and containers
Learn something
Scarf Pull-Through
5–20 min 8 mo–2 yrs Low mess- a cardboard tube or container
- scarves or fabric strips