Over the past month, the toddlers in T2 have been loving to engage in water play! We have explored water indoors and outdoors, and through various states like liquid and ice. We have explored water on ramps, in tubes, in buckets. We have used sponges and squeegees, paintbrushes and scoops. We even explored with the sprinkler! The toddlers have even begun to work on getting their own water out of our new water jugs, exploring how to make it start and stop flowing. The toddlers practiced their scooping and pouring skills, as they used various materials to transfer water. They have enjoyed filling and emptying containers, and seeing all the different ways that water can move.
Water play provides so many benefits for toddlers’ development. Not only is it a great way to cool down when it is hot, it also provides an opportunity for sensory exploration. Playing in water can help to calm and regulate the nervous system, and it allows an opportunity for children to develop their own sensory preferences. The water play that we have engaged in has also helped the toddlers to begin to explore some early science and math concepts such as gravity, volume, and movement. For example, when we used the water ramp in our classroom, the toddlers explored how adjusting the height of the ramp affected the flow of the water. When using containers, they’ve discovered how different amounts of water take up different amounts of space in containers. Providing them with scoops and other materials to transfer water has also helped the toddlers to develop their fine motor skills and coordination.
As the summer progresses and the weather continues to get warmer, we will surely have plenty more opportunities for water play! I wonder where our water explorations will take us next?
