Favorite Bath Toys for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Whenever possible, I try to purchase practical gifts.  In a house with three littles, toys have a way of multiplying around here.  The picking up and putting away of said toys can feel like a full time job (even with enlisted help from the kids) and purging can easily become a regular pastime.  I like to look for toys that, while being super fun for the kids, will also help out Mama.  One area I like to focus on is bath time.  Most gift-givers forget about this daily activity and the opportunity to provide for learning and entertainment.

Bath toys give the timid child an object to focus on, provide water babies with more ways to explore their world and give valuable extra time for Mamas with more than one child in the tub!  My kids love their baths and I love hearing their sweet giggles and splashes as they try to “swim”.  I also love a bunch of tried and true bath toys that create new ways to learn from each other, both socially and academically.

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In our home, as soon as the last dinner plate is cleared, there is talk of who will “choose the color” for the bath tub.  My little ones race up the stairs and straight for the cabinet that boasts our container of Crayola Color Bath Dropz, all the while trying to remember whose turn it is to pick.  They are learning to take turns, learning to share and learning to handle disappointment when it is in fact their sibling’s turn tonight.  They are allowed to choose up to two colors for their bath water.  Sometimes they choose the same two colors, making the water a more vibrant blue, yellow or red.  Other times they choose different colors and we can talk about secondary colors.

ALEX toys offers tons of great and affordable options for bath time play.  Their Rub a Dub Magnetic Boats, Dirty Dogs and Shaving in the Tub kit are some of our favorites!  The “dirty” dogs’ spots disappear in warm water so your little one can “wash” their toys as you wash them.  Add a mirror to the side of the tub and your little mister can practice “shaving” like daddy with foam and a razor-less razor.

The ALEX Rub a Dub Star Crayon is a welcomed new addition to our bathtub. We have gone through our share of tub crayons over the years.  Most end up broken into pieces on day one.  The Star Crayon’s chunky holder is perfect for small hands and makes it easy to keep up with six colors all in one place.  ALEX also offers Stickers for the Tub in a variety of themes, including City, Fashion, Garden, Beach, Numbers & Shapes and ABCs.

My kids use Munchkin Bath Letters and Numbers almost nightly.  My four year old likes to teach her younger brother letter and number identification.  They work together and sing songs to arrange letters and numbers in order.  My oldest is even able to use them to sound out and spell simple words.  Bath foam soap and finger paints can also be used to write letters, numbers and words in the tub.

Pair one of these bath toys with a bath wash or hooded towel and you’ll have a fun and practical gift that is sure to get much use.