Play with water

You will need:

• A large bowl or tub

• Equipment for pouring, scooping, filling, tipping etc

• Water (cold or warm)

• An area where spillage is okay

This activity needs close supervision

 water

You can:

• Set up the area with water and equipment

• Let your child play freely

• Watch and stay close by – join in if you want to (without interfering)

You can also:

• Add ice and food colouring to water

• Freeze flowers or shells in ice cubes and add these to the water

• Add dishwashing liquid and wash dishes in the bowl of water

• Play in the bath

• Play with a hose or sprinkler

• Make mud pies

• Jump in puddles

Did you know:

• CHILDREN CAN DROWN IN 2.5cm OF WATER – THEY MUST BE CLOSELY SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES.

• Water play develops physical, social and emotional skills and helps language development.

• Water comes in different forms: ice, steam, rain, snow, fog, clouds, rivers, oceans

• Water is relaxing and can calm children

What your child is learning:

• Basic mathematical concepts such as: measuring quantities, capacity and volume

• Mathematical vocabulary such as more/less, same/different, empty/full, before/after

• Basic scientific concepts of solid (ice) and liquid (water), melting, changes in temperature and how water flows