How to Make Foam Bathtub Toys

Most children enjoy a chance to splash around in the bathtub, playing with toy boats and sea creatures that squirt water. Foam toys are another entertaining activity because these toys stick to the side of the tub, opening up a whole new world of play opportunities. Skip the expensive foam toys available in stores and instead stop by your local craft store and pick up a few sheets of colored foam. In less than an hour, your child will have a brand new set of toys to play with in the bathtub.

Things You'll Need

  • Colored foam sheets
  • Stencils
  • Ink pen
  • Scissors
  • Permanent marker

Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a theme for your bath toys. Little girls might like doll-shaped foam toys with foam clothes to dress them in, while little boys might enjoy a pirate ship and plenty of pirates to man the ship. Letters and numbers are another idea that can help small children learn to spell their names and recognize numerals.

    • 2

      Draw individual shapes on the colored craft foam. Use a stencil if you're unsure of your drawing skills. Use an ink pen to make visible lines, which will make it easier to cut the shapes out.

    • 3

      Cut each individual shape out using a sharp pair of scissors.

    • 4

      Decorate the foam shapes with details, such as scales on a fish shape or a smile on the shape of a person. Get your child in on the fun and give him a permanent marker and let him decorate his own bath toys.

    • 5

      Run a bath for your child and show her how to get the side of the bathtub wet and how to dunk the foam shapes underwater. The wet foam toys will stick well to the wet surface of the bathtub.

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