Summer is here and your kids are full of energy and excitement. To make the most of the sunny days, try some of these sweet and simple water play ideas for preschoolers. All you need are the LullaBaby mini bath dolls and some water.
Water Play Ideas for Preschoolers in the Pool
The Hot & Cold Game with Bath Dolls
Every game is a learning opportunity, especially those in the pool. Take advantage of the warm weather and play the hot and cold game in the water this summer. It will help your child practice directions, listening, and reasoning skills. This fun, structured game can also help prepare them for the transition to kindergarten, teaching them patience, bravery, and independence.
To play, throw the three water-safe LullaBaby bath dolls in the pool and let your child collect them. LullaBaby dolls float, so your child won’t need to dive under to get them.
For 2 year olds
For young children who might need to hold your hand or swim with assistance, you can shout “cold,” “warm,” “hot,” “hotter,” as you help them swim closer and closer to each of their bath dolls. Even if you’re helping, your child will understand the association between “hot” and close and “cold” and far, encouraging them to learn to play more advanced and structured games in the future.
For 3 year olds
For older preschoolers who can swim with floaties without holding your hand, have your child close their eyes and direct them towards one of the floating LullaBaby bath dolls at a time. Stick to the shallow end where your little one’s toes can touch the bottom. Call out “cold,” “cooler,” “warm,” “warmer,” “hot,” and “hotter,” depending on whether they’re moving towards or away from the dolls. The more you play, the better your little one will become at listening to directions, and the more independent they’ll become in the pool.
For 4 year olds
You can also try using words like “forward,” “behind,” “left,” and “right” for older kids to learn those direction words. “If you move forward, you’ll be hotter,” or “The spot just behind you is hot, hot, hot,” are great ways to make the hot and cold game more challenging and rewarding for preschoolers.
Water Play Ideas for Preschoolers in the Yard
If you don’t have a pool or your little one is too young for pool games, try playing with the LullaBaby bath dolls in the yard. If you have a water table or water toys that spray, you can get baby doll wet and practice squeezing her dry. Soak, squeeze, repeat. Sometimes, simple games and exercises are best. This one subtly teaches cause, effect, and practices fine motor skills as they wring the water from their favorite bath doll.
To practice hand-eye coordination and have lots of fun while doing it, fill the bath doll with water until she’s dripping wet and toss her back and forth with your child. This keeps you cool and helps kids improve their catch skills. Have a little baby doll bath or basin at the side to rinse the doll whenever she falls in the grass and gets dirty.
Water Play Ideas for Preschoolers Inside
When the sun is scorching and it’s too hot to go outside, you can cool down with the LullaBaby bath dolls in the tub. We have lots of water play ideas that teach kids cause and reaction, and help little ones learn to clean themselves properly.
You can read that Bathtime Play Ideas Blog Post here. If you want something simpler, fill the tub with water and let your child splish-splash around with their doll: no rules, no guidance, just imaginative play.
Grab one of the dolls and flip her in the water. Have her splash into the tub from the edge. See how creative your child gets and follow their lead.
Help for Summer Bedtime Struggles
After spending time in the sun playing, your child will be tired. Bedtime routines in the summer can be a bit of a struggle since the sun goes down later. Blackout blinds and curtains always help, and adjusting bedtimes so your child can enjoy more outdoor time can work. However, if your child is getting overtired and acting out at bedtime, their snuggly LullaBaby bath dolls can help.
If your child played with their dolls in the water all day, it might be a good idea to have a second set or a different-size bath doll for bedtime. That way, you don’t have to race to get their dolls in the dryer before bed.
Have your little one put their bath doll to bed. Point out the doll’s closed eyes and tell your child that even though the sun is up, baby doll is tired and ready to sleep. Have your child go through all the motions, putting their pajamas on, brushing their teeth, and reading stories, all to put baby doll to bed. Hopefully, this will help your child wind down, so that when you tell your child to close their eyes and show their doll its bedtime, they drift off to sleep.
For more bedtime tips and other ways to make bedtime easier, read our full blog here.
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