Glow Stick Baths
What’s A Glow Stick Bath?
Glow Stick Baths sound simple – and they are!
Think your child would enjoy a Glow Stick Bath?
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First, you’ll need glow light sticks.
Any type will work!
You can get the short, thicker sticks that hang from cords. (No need to use the cords in the bath.)
You can get a package of long, skinny ones that can turn into bracelets and necklaces.
They even make glow sticks that connect into glasses!
Choose long lasting glow sticks to make the bath last an extra long time.
Next, fill your bathtub. You can make it a bubble bath, if you’d like!
The bubbles help diffuse the light, giving everything a nice glow – but if your child’s skin doesn’t handle bubble baths well, the glow stick bath is just as much fun with plain water.
Now it’s time to let the children see what you’ve been preparing for them – I really think they’re going to love this!
You know your kids best.
Would they be wowed walking into a dark bathroom and helping you prepare the glow sticks?
Would they ooh and aah over walking in and seeing the glow sticks already glowing in the water?
It’s up to you how you want to present the glow stick bath to your kiddos –
but then it’s time to have some fun!
Glow Stick Baths are Perfect for…
- Cranky Kids – There’s that phrase you’ve probably heard your grandmother say – that when your kids are a mess, “Just add water!”. By “mess” we mean cranky, bouncing off the walls, one temper fit after another, you get the idea. There are multiple ways to go about “adding water” to a kid, but a fun way to go about it is with special bath time! It helps to reset their little nervous systems.
- Stretching Bedtimes – Is that stretch of time between supper and bedtime a bit of a marathon? Or maybe your “witching hour” is between the afternoon nap and the end of the workday. Whenever it is your children seem to struggle, it’s nice to have a few tricks up your sleeve – and a glow stick bath is a particularly good trick!
- Cold Weather Water Play – Is winter weather giving your family cabin fever? Nothing beats cold weather like warm baths, and what better way to brighten up the grey skies than with a tub filled with neon glow products! It’s a great option for breaking up those long winter days.
- More Weather Days – It’s not just winter that might keep us indoors more than usual! Is there a rainy day? Excessive heat? Set up a glow bath and the day won’t seem nearly as long.
- Bath Time Protests – Do you have a child who absolutely insists they do not need a bath? By making baths more than just water in the tub, you’ll be able to tempt even the most resistant kid. Glow stick baths are quick and easy to set up for kids.
- Holidays! – A great way to make a holiday extra special is with little treats like glow-in-the-dark baths! You can often purchase glow sticks in color combinations that are suited for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Independence Day, and others.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind!
- Of course you know this, but it bears repeating – never leave children in a bath unattended! Accidents can happen so, so fast. If you’re using this glow stick bath idea to help reset the tone of the day, sit on the floor or countertop with a book or some other relaxing activity. It’s important to be there with your child as they play.
- Glow sticks are not safe for kiddos that still tend to put things in their mouths. So we typically suggest waiting for your little ones to be a bit older before trying this activity with them.
- If you choose a glow light product that uses those little connector pieces to turn them into bracelets and necklaces, you may want to super glue the tiny plastic tube on to one end of the glow stick. You don’t want one of those tiny pieces to wind up down the drain at the end of the bath! Honestly, we typically toss those pieces and just use the sticks in the water.
Other Easy Ways to Make Bath Time Fun
Glow stick baths aren’t the only trick you can have up your sleeve when it comes to needing a fun water activity!
Whether you’re looking to end tantrums or ease cabin fever, there is more than one way to make bath time fun.
- Shaving Cream – A perk of letting children loose in the bathtub with shaving cream is that they can make a downright mess, and it all quickly rinses down the drain. I recently saw this colorful shaving cream and thought it looked fun! I’d love to hear if you’ve ever tried it.
- Bath Crayons – Those white walls of the bathtub are just begging to be drawn on. You can buy bath crayons at Wal-Mart and similar stores, or make your own.
- Finger Paint – Finger paint is another way to brighten up boring bathtub walls. I would test the paint in a corner of the tub first, though, to make sure it doesn’t stain your particular finish.
- Bubble Machine – Plug a bubble machine into a wall outlet and have fun!
- Ice Fishing – This one is super fun. Make colored ice cubes by dropping a small amount of food coloring into each tray, then drop them in the bathtub. See if your children can catch the slippery “fish”. You can dump all the fish in at once, or spread it out to make bath time stretch.
- Theme Toys – Just because a toy isn’t specifically a “bath toy” doesn’t mean it can’t enjoy a bath or two. Create themes by grouping together toys like ships, mermaids, trucks, and animals. This Bluey character four-pack has always been a favorite for one of my girls!
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