Water play is an essential part of any early years provision. It provides opportunities
for the children to learn about a whole variety of concepts and to develop skills.
The children will have lots of fun, however water play can also present great risks
so the activity needs to be managed carefully. Small children can drown in just a
cup of water. Water play is normally considered an outdoor activity and EYFS states
‘Being outdoors has a positive impact on children's sense of well-
Childminders need not invest in expensive water equipment from Early Years Suppliers. There really is no need to purchase water tables on legs. A baby bath is a great size for two or three toddlers to play in. Alternatively a large washing up bowl each or a plastic storage crate!
Add plastic fish or underwater creatures to create your own ‘ocean’ for the children to explore. This idea could be extended by giving the children fishing rods!
Toy boats are good for learning about floating and sinking. Older children will enjoy experimenting with a variety of objects to see if they sink or float. Encourage them to predict what will happen before they put the item in the water. Provide a variety of objects that will sink or float. (Save the corks from bottles). Pieces of sponge are great for learning about how things absorb water.
Vary the resources used in the water play activities. Different size beakers are
great for learning about measuring and volume. Funnels are good for helping to pour
into smaller beakers. Measuring beakers or jugs. Spoons and ladles can make water
play into a role play of serving soup! Water wheels show how water can be used to
generate power. Pouring water from one cup to another helps to develop motor skills
and hand eye co-
Add food colouring (ensure that none of the children have an allergy tPieces of sponge are great for learning about how things absorb water.
Make your own seaside with some sand, water and pebbles. Bring back some seaweed next time you go to the beach. Children are fascinated at how it feels so different when dry to when it is wet. Children will love to share their experiences of the seaside with you and this will help with memory and recall, sequencing and vocabulary. Introduce conversations about waves and tides, what you might find on the beach etc.
Chemicals are available to purchase that will turn your water into a gloop. Whilst they may appear expensive at about £18 a tub, they last for about 60 sessions. You could buy a tub between a few childminders and share the cost.
Washing up! The children will love to help you wash all their toys! Fill up a bucket or washing up bowl with some washing up liquid and then involve them with washing the tea set...the plastic building blocks...anything that is washable!
Washing the dog! Depending on the temperament of the dog and how they react to being washed this could be a fun activity for the children. It will help them learn how to look after animals.
Paddling pools can provide lots of fun and learning. However a childminder needs to ensure that the activity is closely supervised at all times and that she has planned carefully before hand. It would be good practice to put together a risk assessment.
Here are a few things you might want to consider:
· The door bell rings. Do I take all the children out of the pool and bring them with me to answer the door? Do I ignore the door bell?
· The landline telephone rings? Have I a walkabout phone that works in the garden? Do I ignore it? Take my mobile outside with me?
· Have I got towels for all the children to dry with in the garden with me?
· Does the floor get slippery round the paddling pool?
· If it is very hot, is their sun cream waterproof? Need regularly re-
· Safely emptying the pool when the activity is finished
· Do I have parental permission?
· How do I cope with babies in nappies?
· How you cope if one child doesn’t want to go in the paddling pool?
· What if one of the children needs to use the toilet?
Splashing in puddles has always been a favourite. Rather than having to say ‘please don’t splash in the puddles you will get your shoes and trousers wet’ have a range of welly boots for them to wear, or ask parents to supply them. Second hand/charity shops often have welly boots for 50p or £1.
When planning water play activities don’t forget to either provide the children with aprons, ideally those with long sleeves and elasticated cuffs, or roll up their sleeves. A spare set of clothes is a good idea!
Most older children love water fights and they can be great fun. However often children get upset if they get really soaked in a water fight, especially if the water is cold! and what seemed like a fun activity ends in tears. Depending on the children it might be advisable to establish some ground rules before starting the water fight and putting a time limit on the activity.
Bathing the baby! No not the minded baby, the dolls. Children, boys and girls, can get a lot of enjoyment out of a doll bathing activity. This is especially good if you have a mum who is expecting another baby. You can use this activity to help the children understand what it is involved in bathing a baby and how they must be carefully handled, head supported etc.
‘Pooh Sticks’ is a good game. The children stand above a stream (traditionally on a bridge) and throw in sticks. These are then ‘raced’ under the bridge. This can help with learning about taking part and winning and loosing!
‘painting’ with water is another great activity. Provide the children with paint brushes or rollers and encourage them to ‘paint’ the fence or make patterns on the patio etc. Watch how quickly their patterns dry in the sunshine!
Lots of fun can be had by setting up a sprinkler. The children will love running in and out of the ‘rain’. You can purchase children’s sprinklers with flowers as the heads.
