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Top 5 Tips to Make Washing Up More Fun

Do you have trouble getting your children to wash up using soap whether it’s to wash their hands before dinner or to take a bath before bed? Often children think this kind of a task is pretty boring and refuse to do it because it takes them away from something fun. But what if washing up became fun?

 

 

 

 

 

Making Washing Up More Fun

 

As a child play therapist and mom of two, I know a thing or two about making chores and other tedious tasks into fun, playful games for kids so they actually want to participate. I also often talk about using a child’s sensory system to engage children in trying new tasks or engaging in less preferred activities. Children are natural sensory seekers, and use their hands to regulate through play. Thus, here are some suggestions on how to get your kids to wash their hands and take a bath when asked!

 

 

Tip 1:

 

As much as I am typically about structure and predictability, I suggest try mixing up bath time in your daily routine! Most kids are given a bath at nighttime before bed, but that isn’t the only time to give a bath and sometimes not the best time for the overtired parent or the overtired child. If bath time is a struggle, mix it up. Ask your child when they want to take a bath and see if that extra empowerment of choice helps them enjoy it more. Sometimes by the time bath time comes around, it’s more of a struggle because the parent and or child are too tired and then become inpatient and irritable. So try doing bath in the morning or before dinner.

 

 

Tip 2:

 

Try a positive incentive for your child if they take a bath when asked without protest. You can keep a sticker chart for your kids, and if they take a bath without protest, they get a sticker! Then, after so many stickers, they might get to stay up 30 minutes later before bed, have extra time on their iPad, or get a special dessert after dinner! Kids love to work towards something fun and feel pride earning it, and they also want to please you, so praise them for then they comply when asked!

 

Tip 3:

 

You’ll want to mix up the toys in the bath. Kids get bored of the same toys over and over again. So have two sets of bath toys and then switch them out every week or two. That way, you can wash the toys in between weeks and also possibly add something new for the next week! Bath toys don’t have to cost a lot of money, get creative and get objects and toys from around the house to play with in the bath. Maybe get some plastic blocks for them to build using their imagination or some used plastic water bottles and some kitchen utensils like tongs to play with during the bath! Think of the bath as a giant sensory table!

 

Tip 4:

 

Make up a special song together for when your children wash their hands. Many people sing “Happy Birthday” during a hand washing due to the length and familiarity of the song, but I challenge you to create your own song to sing! The song should be about 20 seconds long and can go to the same music as your child’s favorite song like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or the latest hit from Katy Perry, so get creative and make it fun!

 

Tip 5:

 

Invest in some fun bath soap! I love companies like One Fun™ that creates and designs products to make kids excited about washing up and makes parents’ lives easier in the meantime! One Fun™ products inspire creativity, curiosity, and playful fun! This step is pretty easy and straightforward, so shop away, and see bath and hand washing time become a lot easier and more fun with with One Fun™ SPLATZ! Haven’t heard of them yet? SPLATZ are natural bubbles of pure soap that gently burst in your hands. So fun, right? They were developed by a mom and two Harvard scientists using natural and biodegradable ingredients, and they are a game changer in the bathroom! If your kids like slime, fidgets, and bubbles, they will love SPLATZ!

 

 

 

 

The Basics: Ingredients

 

As a mom, I am very careful about reading labels and am very concerned about what goes on my children’s skin. One Fun™ products are safe for children 3+ and are made from natural and biodegradable ingredients. SPLATZ are also earth-friendly, gentle on skin, and are free from Parabens, BHT, phthalates, or mineral oil. Ingredients include: water, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, lauryl glucoside, sodium lauryl sarcosinate, sodium PCA, calcium and sodium salts, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, natural thickening agents, DL panthenol, colorant, fragrances, citric acid.

 

 

 

 

 

SPLATZ Naturally Fun Hand Soap

 

This fun hand soap comes in three different colors: Turquoise Sky, Magenta Rose, and Green Apple. We have the Turquoise Sky since we love the color blue! When we wash our hands, in addition to singing a unique song, we like to wash our hands as a family and all squeeze our SPLATZ at the same time! It’s a play-based game that will help attachment between parent and child and make washing up for mealtime fun! This product is recommended for children 3+ and parental supervision is advised. Make sure to splat away from the face and do not eat them!

 

 

 

 

SPLODEZ Bubble Bath & Body Wash

 

This product comes in a powerful purple color! All you have to do is use one SPLODEZ for your body and about 5 in the bathtub for your bubble bath. To help the bubble process, run water over the SPLODEZ at the beginning of the bath. We like to put our SPLODEZ into a toy like a pirate ship and sail them down the water until they get to the spout. Then the pirate ship tips over and the SPLODEZ go overboard into the water to make fun bath bubbles! Come up with your own creative game in the bath with your child using your imagination, toys, and SPLODEZ! This product is recommended for children 3+ and parental supervision is advised. Make sure to splat away from the face and do not eat them!

 

 

 

 

Giving Back

 

As a mental health child therapist, I love that the One Fun™ Company has partnered with YourMomCares to help change the dialogue around mental health and wellness in children. YourMomCares creates and funds innovative, cutting-edge programs and solutions which have a direct impact on children and adolescents, and is working hard to remove the stigma surrounding kids’ mental health. A percentage of every purchase of SPLATZ™ is donated directly to YourMomCares. Please visit YourMomCares.org and our IMPACT 4 KIDS page to learn more.

 

 

Want to try it, too? Buy here!

 

Right now, you can save 15% off on your purchase!


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Hello! I am Dr. Kim and I am The Parentologist! I am first and foremost a wife and a mom. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. I hope through my professional and personal experience we can collaborate with each other on how to better ourselves and our relationships with our families and our children.

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TODAY.com Parenting Team Parenting Contributor

About Dr. Kim

Hello! I am Dr. Kim and I am The Parentologist! I am first and foremost a wife and a mom. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. I hope through my professional and personal experience we can collaborate with each other on how to better ourselves and our relationships with our families and our children. Read More…

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🇺🇸 What a monumental day in history we had t 🇺🇸 What a monumental day in history we had today! 🇺🇸

As soon as we woke up I started educating my children, specifically my daughter, on what the inauguration meant and why today was such a special day in history. We both were glued to the television as we watched @kamalaharris be sworn in as the first Black South Asian woman Vice President and @joebiden be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. We also were powerfully moved hearing @amandascgorman - the youngest inaugural poet in history recite “The Hill We Climb.” 

My daughter was so excited to participate and recite the Pledge of Allegiance with the rest of the county and she was so proud to see and be a part of history in the making. I haven’t been to Washington D.C. in about 8 years but I promised I would take her one day when the pandemic is over. 

In the meantime, I have a fun fact for you! Did you know that President Joe Biden and I both graduated from the same university? Yep! We both went to @syracuseu 🍊 And in fact, @joebiden is the first @syracuseu alumnus to become President of the United States! 

📸: @chrissywphoto #inauguration #inagurationday #inaguration2021 #joebiden #kamalaharris #presidentbiden #syracuseuniversity #syracuse #syracuseu #historyismade #madamvicepresident #mommyandme #46thpresident #sandiego #sandiegoblogger #momblogger #parentingblogger #motherhood
This time of year is notorious for dry air, allerg This time of year is notorious for dry air, allergies, and sinus trouble. #ad 

And since I work from home, it can get quite noisy and distracting with my husband and two children here, so sometimes I get my best work done in the comfort of my own bed. And the best part is that I can have my new @crane_usa “4 in 1” cool mist humidifier on at all times with essential oils to help with overall wellness and since it comes with a sound machine I can block out the other noises in the house! 

And at night, it helps my sinuses as I sleep, especially when the dry air of the heater is on, and it has a nightlight so my kids can see where they are going in the middle of the night when they inevitably need water or a hug! 

This is our 6th #cranehumidifier style and it’s my favorite one yet! Check out my stories for a closer look! 👀 #happyhealthyhumidity 

#humidifier #coldandflu #humidifiers #peaceandquiet #workingfromhome #workingmom #working #coldandfluseason #coldandflurelief #winter #winterstyle #wintertime #wintervibes #winter2021 #wahm #wahmlife #wahmlifestyle #workfromhomemom #workfromhomelife #workfromhome #workathomemom #workathome #workathomelife #newmom #babyshowergift #sinusrelief
{New Blog Post} “How to Teach Children Gratitude {New Blog Post} “How to Teach Children Gratitude” 🌱✨🌸

Throwing it back to one of the first mommy and me photos I ever posted on my feed because I’ve been teaching my daughter about gratitude since she was this little, possibly even younger (she is two here for reference)! 

Gratitude is such an important virtue and must have trait to build a child’s character. It also shows therapeutic benefits when you show gratitude to others, so why wouldn’t you want to make it a priority to teach and instill in your children? 

In this blog, I have suggestions for how to teach children gratitude broken down by ages and stages from infancy to teenage years, while also including some conversation prompts, and links to my favorite gratitude journals for busy families that we use here at home! 

Find the direct link to read in my bio and stories! I also published similar articles on @todayparents and @redtricycle if you follow me there! #drkimblog
DOUBLE TAP if you agree!! 🙋🏼‍♀️ I am DOUBLE TAP if you agree!! 🙋🏼‍♀️

I am that mom who wants to do it all and when I get overwhelmed or start suffering from a major case of burnout, I feel guilty if I take a break instead of giving my body and mind permission to slow down or even stop. 

As moms we often feel guilty if we take a break or believe we are perceived as weak if we ask for help. I have learned that the more I ask for help and the more time I take for myself, the better I am for my children. 

Guilt is an emotional response to something you perceived you did wrong, but when you experience unnecessary guilt, it’s counterproductive to healing and helping you with what you need most. So give it a try and let me know how you are going to take a break and not feel guilty about it this week below in the comments! ⤵️ #drkimparentingtips #theparentologist #drkimparentingadvice
DOUBLE TAP if you used to love Hello Kitty when yo DOUBLE TAP if you used to love Hello Kitty when you were little - and still do! 🙋🏼‍♀️🐱#ad

I am so excited to have all of these new items from the @erincondren Hello Kitty collection that launched today to keep work fun, playful, and reminiscent of childhood - something all adults need a little more of, am I right? 

The collection is all about organization, kindness, and friendship. My favorite piece of the collection is the “Daily Kindness and Joy Journal” that boldly says BE KIND, BE NICE, REPEAT on the front cover but I am also pretty obsessed with the Hello Kitty x Erin Condren Pencil Case and Vegan Leather Padfolio! 

Swipe to see my business attire on top and activewear on the bottom work style! 😉 And head to my stories to see it all up close and for your convenience I have everything linked for you http://liketk.it/35XZC and make sure to follow me at THEPARENTOLOGIST @liketoknow.it  for more of my favorites!!! #liketkit #erincondren
{New Blog Post} “Sensory Play, Pretend Play, and {New Blog Post} “Sensory Play, Pretend Play, and Role Play Ideas for Children with Autism” 🧩 🧸 🚂 ⚽️ 
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For the last 3 years I have spent my career therapeutically helping families and children of all ages on the Autism Spectrum. Play has been a fundamental way for many of my clients to communicate if they are non-verbal. And some of my clients have had to be taught how to play with a toy or another person. The play ideas listed on the blog can be used with children with or without special needs. Play is a universal way a child can explore their world in a way that makes sense to them and cultivate imagination, creativity, and fun! As a Registered Play Therapist, I love the work I do and couldn’t be prouder of the progress my clients have made with play over the years! #drkimblog
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#autism #autismmom #autismfamily #autismspectrum #autismcommunity #autismparent #autismlife #autismparents #autismparenting #autistickids #autisticchildren #autistictoddler #autismresources #playtherapy #playtherapist #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #activitiesforkids #activitiesfortoddlers #activitiesforchildren #sensoryplay #sensoryplayideas #sensoryprocessingdisorder #sensoryactivities #momswhoblog #ontheblog #newblogpost #parentingblogger #momblogger
{New Blog Post} ✨🌱🧴“Ways to Take Control {New Blog Post} ✨🌱🧴“Ways to Take Control of Your Eczema” #ad 
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These winter months have been so dry and my eczema has been flaring up. Can anyone relate? For decades I have used a variety of treatment options from over-the-counter ointments and lotions to doctor prescribed steroid medication. In today’s blog, I am partnering with @mediqcme to share more of my story and struggles with atopic dermatitis as well as some new treatment options! If you or a loved one suffer from eczema or atopic dermatitis it’s a must read! 
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Plus there is a survey at the end of the blog you can fill out and opt in to be entered to win 1 of 10 VISA gift cards! 🙌🏻 Link in bio and in stories! #itchyskinhelp #drkimblog
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#eczema #eczemarelief #eczemahealing #eczematreatment #eczemaproblems #eczemawarrior #atopicdermatitis #itchyskin #itchyskinrelief #atopicskin #atopicdermatitistreatment #atopicdermatitismanagement #eczemamanagement #winterskincare #winterskin #winterskincareroutine #winterskincaretips #newblogpost #momswhoblog #ontheblog #wellnessblogger #wellnesstips #wellnessexpert
{New Blog Post} 🌿 “How to Utilize Play to Get {New Blog Post} 🌿 “How to Utilize Play to Get Your Kids to Do What You Want” 
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As a Registered Play Therapist, play is the foundation to the way I help children conceptualize and conquer the world. Play is second nature to children and the way they respond to many of life’s obstacles. Sometimes as parents, it is easy to get into a power match with your children, especially when you want your children to comply with a request and they won’t budge. When this happens, we need to change the way our adult mind thinks and switch it to the way a child thinks. Instead of giving them a punitive consequence, try these play recommendations that can be used with children as young as toddlerhood all the way to adolescents! #drkimblog 
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#playtherapy #playtherapist #therapistsofinstagram #playoutsidethebox #learningthruplay #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #learningisfun #parenting #parentingtips #parenting101 #parentingteens #parentingtweens #parentingtoddlers #parentingadvice #parentingexpert #parentingblogger #parentingblog #newblogpost #ontheblog #momswhoblog #parenthood #toddlerproblems #toddlermom #behaviortherapist #behaviortherapy #positiveparentingsolutions #positiveparentingtips #positiveparenting
{New Blog Post} “Tips on How To Set Goals Effect {New Blog Post} “Tips on How To Set Goals Effectively in 2021” ✨ 
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It’s is usually around this time that I start thinking of the goals I want to accomplish for the year. And whether you believe in making resolutions, affirmations, or goals, it is time to be proactive!! On the blog, I outlined an organizational system I use year after year to help me accomplish my goals. And I hope they work for you!! 
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What are some of your goals you want to accomplish this year? 
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#2021 #2021goals #goals #goalsetting #goalgetter #goalsettingtips #goalsetter #goalsetting2021 #goalcrusher #momhustle #snowday #snowman #newgoals #newgoals2021 #mommyandme #letthembelittle #letthembekids #letthemplay #playoutside #playoutdoors #playoutsidethebox #familyday #familyfun #familysnowday
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