What You’ll Need

• Safety scissors
• Craft foam

What to Do

1. Cut the foam into strips about 2 inches wide.
2. Cut the strips into triangles, rectangles, and squares.
3. Once you’re in the tub, dip the foam pieces into the water and arrange the shapes on the wall to build houses, buildings, streets and more.

Extend the Fun

Younger kids: Talk with your child about how she’s made these shapes into a town. What kind of shape did she use for a roof? A window? The next time you and your child take a walk around town, point out the shapes you see. Compare these shapes to the ones she used in her bathtub town. Which shapes are similar to the ones she used? Which shapes are different?   

Older kids: Encourage your child to make a bathtub mural using the shapes. (He might need more craft foam.) He can make a really large town or create an abstract, geometric work. If it takes longer than one bath time, save his work so he can continue it later. Together, look for murals in your area or online to explore the concept and find inspiration.