Water Play Still Tops the Bill at Grandma's House
I was pleased to purchase a nice, sturdy two-sided water/sand table for my granddaughter last year much to her delight. Her parents enjoyed the gift also, since children never seem to tire of this vehicle for endless learning through discovery. The fact that it stays at her house doesn't keep her from enjoying water play at Nona's, however. A plastic dish bucket on a low table inside, or a small, hard-sided kiddie swimming pool on cement blocks outside, can provide the same experience as anything "Little Tykes" manufactures. Placed in a shady spot with constant adult supervision, water play provides opportunities for developing math and science concepts, eye-hand coordination and language skills especially concept specific vocabulary. Here are some things you can use to extend the experience and keep children from 18 months through 8 or even 9 busy.
* Start off with plastic measuring spoons and plastic measuring cups. When interest starts to wane add age appropriate items from the kitchen like a turkey baster, sponges of different sizes and textures, a whisk, a strainer, syringe, funnels, old wine corks, and a short length of plastic tubing. Provide concept vocabulary like sink, float, heavy, light, buoyant, absorbent, through, overflow, etc.
* Cut some sponges up into shapes or letters. Show the children how to dip them in the water then use them on brown paper or newsprint in the house, or cement outside the house, to stamp shapes and words that will disappear when dry. A house paintbrush is also fun for painting anything with no cleanup.
* Occasionally spice up the activity by putting a few drops of food coloring in the water. Mixing colors is fun and concepts like blending primary colors to make secondary colors can be talked about.
* If you're outside and you don't mind the cleanup, put the water table near the sand box or put sand in a bucket near the water and let them explore the different qualities of mud. They'll love you for it!
Children will become engrossed in these activities and both water and sand play are very calming activities that can soothe a cranky or over stimulated child. Always remember though, that a child can drown in only 1 inch of water so they require constant supervision when engaging in water play.
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Hullo, really like it that you show how all the elements of play-and-learn can at times be magicked up 'fresh', free of the imagineering-cum-straightjacketing of toy company, movie tie-in intrusions. We'll be trying to follow in your footsteps.
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I enjoyed your blog on water play. When I was a young mother some of my friends didn't want their child playing with water. They felt it was too messy and they would get wet. My daughters always enjoyed the non traditional play. They weren't afraid to get wet or dirty and they enjoyed their play group and nursery school water tables and we would just extend their play to the kitchen sink. Sure it got messy and they got wet but they enjoyed every wet moment of it. Now I look forward to doing these things with my grandson. I hope that he will enjoy the experimenting and water play as much as his mom did. Of course I will have to wait a little while for he is only 3 months old and his biggest enjoyment is his play right now in his bath tub enjoying the water and relaxing. Thank you for all the support and suggestions with the water play. I will have to make a mental note of it. Thanks Nona Nita. Your blog is wonderful.
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Great ideas with the water. My grandchildren love water as well. We have a traditional back to school party every year for just the kids and grandma. This year's party was an outdoor water party with multiple water stations set up to keep my 6 little school age party guests busy and wet. I wrote about it recently on my blog if anyone is interested.
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