How to Encourage Water Play in Young Children
Water play is one of the best ways to help your toddler develop her imagination, hand-eye coordination and enhance her social skills. In most cases, encouraging your toddler to engage in water play is an easy task because kids love messy activities. This activity is fun and educational.
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Things You'll Need
- Shallow plastic tubs (between 5 and 8 inches deep)
- Plastic cups in various sizes
- Plastic funnel
- Large plastic spoons and ladles
- Sponges
- Paint brushes
- Squeeze or squirt bottles
- Towels
Instructions
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1
Designate an area outdoors for your water play activities. Your toddler is probably going to get water everywhere once he begins playing with the water, so make sure the area you've selected has a large splash zone. You can bring water play activities indoors, but keep in mind that water is going to get everywhere.
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2
Place several plastic tubs on the ground and fill each with different amounts of water.
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3
Place the sponges, cups, spoons, funnel, paint brushes and squeeze bottles into one plastic tub near the water-filled tubs.
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4
Watch your toddler explore the water-filled tubs and the tub filled with goodies. He'll enjoy pouring water from the cups into different tubs, squeezing water out of sponges, using spoons and ladles to transfer water from tub to tub, watching water pour through the funnel and "painting" with water on the concrete patio.
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Talk to your toddler occasionally about what she's learning as she plays. Ask her how far she thinks she can squirt water or if one cup can hold more water than another.
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6
Use the towels to dry her off when she's all finished and store the empty tubs in the garage.
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Tips & Warnings
Encourage your friends to bring their toddlers over for a water play date. The kids will enjoy playing side-by-side and it's the perfect opportunity to teach valuable social skills such as sharing.
Be sure to apply sunscreen to your child and make sure he's wearing protective clothing if he is playing outdoors.
Always make sure an adult is supervising any water play activities. A container of water is always a potential safety hazard.
Make sure your children walk, and don't run, when on wet surfaces because they can slip and get hurt.
