5 Bathtime Activities to do

with Pre-Verbal Children

#1: Bathtime #2: Mirror Games

Activity: Make noises for all your child's bath
toys (e.g. “vmmm” for the boat as it drives,
“quack” for the duck, and “splash” as you toss a
toy in). Does your child imitate any of these
noises? Does she make any on her own?
Activity: Play peekaboo in the mirror together.
While looking in the mirror together, cover and
then quickly uncover your face, or move your
head so that you disappear and then reappear
in the mirror. Is your child watching your face in
the mirror?

#3: Toilet Paper Tubes #4: Toothbrushing

Activity: Oral experiences help your child to

Activity: Try making some loud and some soft
sounds through your tube. Move from one side
to the other. Does your child turn to follow your
sounds?
become more aware of her/his tongue, teeth,
lips and cheeks, to later make speech sounds.
Offer a “baby banana brush,” or any other
similarly long and stick-shaped soft teether, to
help your child have positive oral experiences.

#5: Bathtime Reading Corner

Activity: Read Barnyard Bath together. Don't

worry too much about the printed words at this
stage. Follow your child's gaze to see what s/he
is interested in and make a simple comment
about whatever s/he is looking at in that
moment (e.g. "Hi, cow!", "I see a duck,
quack!"). Allow her/him to flip the pages at any
pace, or offer help if needed.

The SpeakEasy Sandbox is a newsletter that provides caregivers the necessary tools to boost their
child’s language development through play. Learn more at www.speakeasycommunity.com.
© SpeakEasy Community 2019
 5 Springtime Activities to do
with Pre-Verbal Children

#1: Springtime Walks #2: Egg Hunt

Activity: Go on a walk with your child. Even a
quick trip around the block would be just fine!
Talk to them about the fresh, springtime air. Activity: Use your eggs or closed containers as
Can you breath in and out together shakers. Place a couple hard objects inside (e.g.
("mmm....aaaaah!")? Exaggerate your dry rice) and shake, while imitating the noise
"breaths," and use a musical tone (e.g. make your shaker makes ("tch tch tch").
your tone go up as you breathe in and down as
you go out), to stay playful and engage your
child.

#3: Tissue Paper Crafts #4: Rainy Day Games

Activity: Crumple up pieces of colorful tissue

paper together. This can also be done with
simple tissue or paper towels, however colorful
tissue paper can be more visually engaging and
makes more noise. Explore the sounds you can
make together.
Activity: Splash in a puddle together and use
exaggerated tones of voice and faces to model
how the water feels ("brrrrrr, that's cold!, "my
hand is wet wet wet!")

#5: Springtime Reading Corner

Activity: Read The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

You can read some of the words if your child is
interested, but don't worry too much about
what is written on the page. Make some silly
noises ("om nom nom", "yum!") as you pretend
to eat some of the fruits and foods in the story.

The SpeakEasy Sandbox is a newsletter that provides caregivers the necessary tools to boost their
child’s language development through play. Learn more at www.speakeasycommunity.com.
© SpeakEasy Community 2019