Water Play!

It's been hot out! Here are some great activities to do with children with water in mind. Be sure to monitor them and provide appropriate materials for each age group.

Infant Water Play

Materials Needed:
Cookie sheet
Water
Water Toys

Directions:
Fill the cookie sheet with a small amount of water. 
Place the water toys on the cookie sheet of water.
Place the infant in front of the cookie sheet on tummy time or sitting up.
Sit next to them to observe and talk about the water.

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Mixing Bowl Water Play

Water play is a great sensory activity. Fill mixing bowls with water and provide children with egg beaters, whisks, and mixing spoons. You can also add glitter, ice, bits of paper, food coloring or a few drips of dish soap. 

This activity allows them to explore the scientific qualities of the objects in the water. They will see that when you mix the red water with the blue water it turns purple, they may also notice that you can not undo what they have done. 

But when they mix the pieces of paper into the purple water they can still extract the paper. This will help them learn that everything will react in a different way as well as the qualities that cause them to react the way they do. ​

Water Xylophone

Here is what you will need:  Glasses, water, food coloring, spoon.

1.  Fill your glasses with different amounts of water.
2.  Put several drops of food coloring into each glass.
3.  Using the back of the spoon have your children gently tap the top of each glass.
4.  Have your children "play" different songs, like "Twinkle, Twinkle" or "Jingle Bells".

Water Song

Water for the flowers.
Water for the trees.
Water for the birds.
Water for the bees.
Water for the rivers,
and water for the seas.
Water for the world,
and water for me.