Water Play

It looks like the sun is going to have his hat on all week and there is nothing we like better when the weather heats up than a spot of water play. Water play is calming, cooling, sensory and develops a host of skills. We have also found it doesn’t really have an age limit. Older children might enjoy our Water Filter Challenge and below we have shared a few more ideas we have used in the past to spice up water play.

Water Wall

Raid your kitchen, raid the shed, raid your recycling bin! Colanders, tubes and drain pipes can be tied to a fence to create a fun water wall. Empty plastic milk bottles can be cut in two and the half with the handle used as a jug. Holes can be added to the bottom half to allow water to trickle through. A water wall can be set up in advance for younger children. Older children can be involved from the start building, testing and redesigning the water wall.

Chalk

This is a hugely popular activity and its not hard to see why. Chalk is smashed with a hammer to create a fine powder and mixed with water to create different colours. The coloured waters can them be tipped and mixed to create new colours!

Food Colouring

Sometimes water is more appealing to play with if you can actually see it and all it takes is a few drops of food colouring!

Flowers and Herbs

Adding flowers and herbs to the mix increases the sensory element of water play and makes a for a beautiful and fragrant experience. Obviously you should choose non toxic flowers, but we like to play it super safe and use edible ones. If you don’t have a Herb Garden why not plant one?

Tea Set

Make believe garden tea parties are older than time. If you have a stainless steel tea set in the back of a cupboard now is the time to get it out. Add a few herbs for tea leaves and some flowers for cupcakes and you will have a spread suitable for even the most discerning teddy bear!