Learning about care of self and others is essential for young children. To accomplish that, it really helps if you have activities that are meaningful. While Montessori education encourages using real child-sized tools and real-life activities, a baby doll can help your child in a number of ways.
Caring for a baby doll is a simple way for toddlers and preschoolers to develop concentration and self-care skills. And if they’re preparing for a new sibling, it can be the best tool. Today, I’m sharing 20+ ideas for baby doll washing that can work well indoors or outdoors, at home or in the classroom.
You’ll find lots of fun ideas here for both girls and boys. Just individualize a doll washing activity for your own environment and your own child. I recommend using a doll and materials that are washable (some of the realistic-looking dolls aren’t supposed to get wet) and as realistic-looking as possible for your doll washing activity. A used baby bath tub (maybe your toddler or preschooler’s baby bath tub) can be perfect for the tub, although almost any sort of tub will work. Of course, some dolls come with a bath tub.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
20+ Baby Doll Washing Activities
Although I divided these into indoor and outdoor baby doll washing activities, most can be adapted for either indoors or outdoors.
Indoor Baby Doll Washing Activities
Baby Doll Washing: Practical Life for Toddlers and Preschoolers (my post with YouTube video)
Washing Baby Dolls from Pink and Green Mama (featured in my Activity of the Week: Doll Washing post from 2011) Pink and Green Mama blog is no longer available.
Center for Baby Washing from The Preschool Toolbox
Baby Doll Washing from It’s All About the Process
Baby Doll Washing from Natural Beach Living
Baby Day in Preschool from Teach Preschool
Washing a Toy Baby from Learning 4 Kids
Washing Doll from Picklebums
Caring for Newborn with Pretend Play from Laughing Kids Learn
YouTube Video: How to set up a Montessori-inspired “Care of doll” station for toddlers from Mumma Diaries by Amruta Ram
Practical Life: Baby Doll Washing from Just Montessori
Doll Washing from Montessori in Virginia Beach
Baby Doll Bathing Area from Joyful Mama’s Place
Doll Washing from The Wonder Years
Outdoor Baby Doll Washing Activities
A baby doll washing activity can be a perfect summer activity for toddlers and preschoolers!
Baby Bath Station from Mama.Papa.Bubba
Baby Bath Station from Happy Hooligans
Baby Doll Washing from Mama Pea Pod
Baby Doll Washing and Caring from The Imagination Tree
More Related Practical Life Posts
Montessori Practical Life Activities
How to Help Your Preschooler Help Himself (or Herself)
Montessori-Inspired Activities for Care of Self
Update: Our New Baby Resources as of 1/15/2024
Realistic, Waterproof Baby Dolls
Montessori-Inspired New Baby Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my free newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Free New Baby Printables and Montessori-Inspired New Baby Activities
- Baby Doll Washing: Practical Life for Toddlers and Preschoolers (this post with YouTube video)
- 20+ Doll Washing Activities for Indoors or Outdoors
- Using Kindness Elves to Help Prepare a Child for a New Baby
- Welcoming a New Baby into Our Montessori Family
- Welcoming Another New Baby into Our Montessori Family
- 100 Acts of Kindness Challenge for Big Sisters and Big Brothers
- Free Baby Sign Language Videos {Signs and Songs}
- Preventing Choking in Babies and Toddlers with Older Siblings
- How to Prepare a Montessori Baby Room at Home (roundup post)
- Preparing a Montessori Newborn Baby Space at Home
- How to Use Montessori Mobiles to Encourage a Newborn Baby’s Development and Delight
- Preparing a Montessori Baby Space with Shelves at Home
- Preparing a Montessori Baby Space in Your Living Room
- How to Prepare Montessori Homeschool Spaces for Babies through First Graders
- Babies – Activities and Ideas Pinterest Board
Have fun preparing for a new baby (or helping your students prepare for a new baby)!
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