Turn your bath tub into a coffee shop with this fun, adorable activity.
I especially like that it’s easy for all ages. My seven-year-old stepdaughter takes it very seriously. My 18-month-old son grabs the cups and tries to drink the bath water.
What is it about toddlers and slurping up bath water? And then they get that mischievous smile that says, “That was forbidden — and delicious!”
(Side note: she was reading over my shoulder while I typed that last sentence. She smiled and wholeheartedly agreed).
What you’ll need to play:
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-Kids’ cups
-Play coffee cups, if you have ’em! We happened to have one lying around from our beloved play kitchen, but anything will do!
How we play:
- I start the bath and grab the materials listed above.
- I get the kids in the bath. I do NOT ask them, “Wanna play coffee shop?” I just bring over the bucket with all the supplies mentioned above and say,
“Delivery! Delivery!” I pretend to look all around until I see them. “Oh! Hi. I have a delivery here, it looks like equipment? For a coffee shop? Are you opening up a new coffee shop? Did you order all this stuff?”
I am answered with a grin and a big, “YES!”
Because kids are the best at “Yes, And.”
3. I duck down behind the tub and pop up as different characters, ordering my drinks.
Here’s who visited the coffee shop bath tonight.
- A very tired mom who needed a large vanilla latte with lots of extra espresso.
- A sweet old woman who wanted some hot cocoa with whipped cream (bubbles are great for this).
- My best Ted Lasso impersonation (they don’t know who that is, so it was just to entertain myself).
- A proper British lady in search of the best cup of tea in town.
- An edgy teenager who just wanted the barista to “surprise” her.
- A little kid who wanted something sweet with sprinkles.
The kids had a blast keeping up with all these crazy customer demands. The barista and her “assistant” were busy as can be.
My son is always the role of the assistant who messes everything up — it’s a type cast that works really well for these games.
4. Once all the orders had been fulfilled, my last character popped up. The cleaning staff.
“I heard the coffee shop was closing! I’m here to help you clean up.”
Being this character made that transition much easier for everyone. My stepdaughter happily helped cleaned up, staying in character.
Her assistant, on the other hand, was a little less helpful.
*Bonus: My stepdaughter said I sounded “JUST like the bad guy from Home Alone.” So apparently, I do a pretty good Joe Pesci!
And that’s coffee shop bath!
Easy as can be and so much fun. It was definitely one of our favorite parts of the whole day, and a great chance to connect through creative, imaginative play.
What coffee shop customers would you add to the list? Taking suggestions in the comments!
Other ideas for fun connection at bath time:
3. Mermaid Café
Hi! I’m Mia.
Mom, stepmom, wife, songwriter, performer, and theater educator.
I love sharing ideas, tips, and templates for connecting with kids through low-to-no budget, waste-free, creative play.
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