Bath Buddies

Use homemade or store-bought bath puppets to teach your child the importance of washing hands.

How it Plays

Many toy stores carry simple terrycloth puppets made especially for the bath. (In other words, they're supposed to get wet.) Buy one or two, or help your child make her own by decorating terrycloth sport socks with waterproof permanent markers. Keep a puppet next to the bathroom sink, and have your child put it on when it's time to wash her hands. Then show her how to put on a puppet show that incorporates washing hands. For example, if the puppet is a dog or cat, the hand with the puppet might "lick" the other hand clean. Switch hands so both are well scrubbed.

What You'll Need

Learning and Growing

Like all theater and dress-up games, putting on puppet shows stretches your child's imagination.