I don’t know about you guys, but I’m mourning summer. My kids are happiest near water. There’s just something about a pool, or a lake, or the ocean that brings a smile to their faces … and wears them out!
Water is calming, at least for my children. But, alas, autumn has arrived in the granite state. I love fall just as much as the next guy, but I do miss those splash-filled days.
Recently, I’ve tried to allow for more autumn-friendly splashing by making bathtime educational. I call it Tub STEM.
Make Bath Time Educational with Tub STEM
Honestly, I do not think you need to spend much money to have some STEM fun. My children have enjoyed STEM challenges using cardboard boxes and broken pool toys. They have built forts and fairy houses. And one time I make a tinker kit for only $5.
That said, I spent a little money on our Tub STEM and the learning and peace has been priceless.
Here’s what I purchased:
These little tubes are fantastic. You can see them in the image above. They stick to the wall with a suction cup, clean up easily in the dishwasher, and provide hours of learning and entertainment. Each tube is a bit different and some even move when water flows through. Add in a couple extras, which I’ll get to in a sec, and you will have peace and happiness during the dreaded witching hour!
You can see my youngest using this rain cloud in the first image of this post. This simple toy provides oodles of fun. Simply fill it with water and let it rain. If you place your finger over the top hole, it stops! It is a great way to talk about the water cycle and a mini physics lesson to boot!
Vileafy 6-Piece Measuring Cups and Spoons
This colorful set is affordable and brightly colored. I stuck a couple of those removable adhesive hooks to our shower wall so, at the end of the tub, the kids can hang them up to dry. Best part? This is stealth math! They are learning fractions and measurement while they play!
Home Value 3-Cup Plastic Measuring Cup
One for each of my kiddos and, again, they are learning math while they fill and dump water in the tub!
Again, one for each kiddo. It’s amazing how much learning happens when you give your child a ruler!
Drop one or two of these in the tub and … boom! You’ve got what my kids call a “color tub”… we’ve been doing this for years and it has yet to become boring.
These are fun, period, but the other night my kids were actually writing math on the wall as they figured out measurements. I love when kids play math!
This is not an every night thing, but once in a while, I like to give the kids some glowsticks and turn off the lights. I’m not sure how much cleaning is happening, but memories are being made.
These simple additions have made for a peaceful, and educational witching hour
Sometimes the simplest things make for fantastic learning experiences. We have been enjoying Tub STEM since August and the kids remain enamored. Some evenings, I read a favorite STEM book aloud while they play. Other times, I catch up on podcasts. Either way, hands-on learning is happening through play… and that’s a win in my world.
Now, it’s your turn: What are your family’s favorite simple STEM activities? Share here!
