Looking for a fun indoor activity for kids? Try letting your kids give toy dinosaurs a bath. This sensory-based activity is perfect for kids in need of something to do on an inside day. Learn more about why throwing a dinosaur bath is perfect for play.
What is a dinosaur bath activity?
This activity was entirely created by my toddlers.
My daughter (3.5) and youngest (25 months old) announced that the dinosaurs were dirty and needed a bath. This was around 8:47 am. By 8:52 am, we had a full-on dinosaur bath… in our kitchen… in our pajamas.
Why did the dinosaurs need a bath?
(First of all – that sounds like the start of a joke.)
Second of all – I have no idea! But this was really important to the two of them and when something is that important just say yes.
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Saying “yes” to a dinosaur bath was crucial
Doing a dinosaur bath before 9 am was not on my punch card for the day. But kids need wins. They need to hear yes. They need to know they have good and valid ideas. I had no reason to say no. So before giving the knee-jerk automatic no, I said yes.
I said yes to the water on the kitchen floor. A towel will dry it.
I said yes to all this happening in pajamas. We didn’t have anywhere we needed to be that morning.
I said yes to the dinosaurs being cleaned for the first time in years. This one was actually a win.
In my “activity experience,” when kids come up with the idea – the buy-in for the activity is way higher.
That means that my kids will play longer.
This activity ended up going on for 30+ minutes, followed by another solid 30+ minutes of dinosaur playtime.
The Materials
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- Dinosaurs: Smaller than my dinosaurs, but a great set (we own these)
- Storage container (or use the bath tub!)
- Tear free bubble bath
- Scrubby brushes
In less than 5 minutes, you can have a dinosaur bath set up for your kids! After all, it was my kids who came up with this idea so I definitely know how long the set-up will be.
RELATED: Curious what supplies I keep on hand for my activities? Check out this list of 15 supplies and the 40+ activities they can make.
What if you don’t have dinosaurs?
Make do with what you have!
We’ve done a toy wash before.
We’ve done an apple bath and a pumpkin bath.
We’ve even gotten our trucks muddy and done a bath second!
The possibilities are endless.
RELATED: Are you in need of more easy indoor activities for kids? You should check out my list of favorites!
Did the dinosaur bath make a mess?
Of course it did!
But it was soapy water which means my floor actually came out ahead here. My kitchen was definitely cleaner by the end.
If you are really scared of the water mess, make this a bath time activity. I love a good bath time activity!
RELATED: Wondering how I’ve taught my kids to keep the mess to a minimum? Here’s my “how to set up a sensory bin” post.
What did kids learn playing in a dinosaur bath?
We never have to justify or quantify an activity by what kids may learn from it.
But it is often fun to see exactly what play can bring into a child’s life (kids learn best from play, remember).
In this activity, my kids were also:
- Doing a sensory activity: Playing in water and bubbles is a sensory bin
- Motor skills and muscles: Cleaning uses their hands and arms
- Imaginary play: They came up with story lines about the bubble bath
Here’s the most important thing my kids learned:
They learned they have great ideas and their parent will help make their dreams come true.
Sure, it was just a set of dinosaurs in a bin of soapy water. To them: it was the world. They’d had an idea and that idea was valid and validated. That’s a really amazing feeling when you are 2 and 3, and most every decision is made for you.
They had a good plan. And they watched that plan come to fruition. I loved this moment for them (and now year’s later, updating this post, I’m still loving the powerful joy that this day was).
Frequently Asked Questions
I get that! Put a towel down under the bin to make things easier to clean and safer for your floors.
This activity is for any child safe to play with bubbly water. My kids were 2, 3, and 5 when announced this was the right activity for them.
I pulled out the dinosaurs and had the kids dry them. The kids went off to play with the dinosaurs (what a win) and I carried the bin back to the sink to dump it.
Susie Allison, M. Ed
Owner, Creator
Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie has written two home learning curricula, Playing Preschool and Branches. Her parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.
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