In the dramatic play area, block area, and outside play area, bathroom scales are loose parts that allow kids to bump up against numeracy as well as the concepts of mass and measurement. They can also hone comparing and contrasting skills, visual discrimination skills, and other observational skills.

Bathroom Scales And Experimentation

These scales can also serve as a literal platform for basic experimentation. Just having a scale in the environment can lead to experiments to answer questions like:

• Does a basket full of baby dolls weigh the same as a basket full of wooden blocks?
• Do towels weigh the same when they are wet as they do when they are dry?
• Do I weigh more if I hold things?
• Do I weigh more after eating lunch?

While any bathroom scales will add novelty to a play space, I recommend opting for the old school mechanical versions over newer digital models. With the digital versions, a number just flashes up on the screen, while with the mechanical versions you see something move. Plus, with the old school versions, you don’t have to mess around with batteries that are dead–or missing because Brea took them out and hid them again.

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