Jump to selected activity

Learning Skills

  • Motor control
  • Sensory exploration
  • Social interaction
  • Understanding of environment

Water Wiggler

As your baby grows and develops, his five senses contribute to his knowledge of himself and the world around him. Playing in a tub of water provides a complete sensory experience, along with a lot of fun!

Materials

  • Bathtub
  • Your hands

Instructions

  • Run a warm bathtub of water for your baby (and yourself, if you like).
  • Slowly place your baby in the water, allowing him to get used to the water.
  • Show your baby the properties of the water by lightly drizzling, splashing, and pouring water over him.
  • When your baby is ready to play Water Wiggler, hold him firmly on his tummy with both hands, and move him slowly back and forth over the surface of the water, being sure his head is above the surface.
  • Make motorboat sounds while you wiggle your baby back and forth in the water. Let your baby rest a few minutes between rides.

Safety

Be sure your baby’s head does not get submerged and the water does not get on his face, in his eyes, or in his mouth. Make sure the water is not too cold or too hot.

* Play and Learn activities reprinted from “Baby Play and Learn” with permission of its author, Penny Warner, and its publisher, Meadowbrook Press (1999).