Bye-Bye, Bath Water

What you need

• the bath water at the end of bath time
• a towel

How to do it

1. Lift your toddler out and wrap them in the towel before you pull the plug.
2. Pull the plug together and watch the water start to swirl.
3. Wave at it and say 'bye-bye, water' as it goes.
4. Do the same thing every night and leave a gap for them to join in.

Why it matters

Saying bye to something that's actually leaving, and can't be offended, is the easiest place to practise a goodbye, and it happens at the same moment every night.

What they're learning

Waving bye

A wave usually comes before the word, and it's every bit as much a goodbye.

A steady routine

Same moment, same words, every night, which is how it ends up theirs.

Noticing endings

Something going away is a real idea to a toddler, and a goodbye gives it a shape.

What to look for

Watch for a wave arriving before you've started yours.

A tip

Wrap them first and pull the plug second. Out of the water is the safe place to watch it go.

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