Waterplay Wednesday: Just Add Water!

We're about to head out to one of our favorite sprinkler parks and playgrounds for my nature based playgroup. Sprinkler parks are one of my go-to outdoor summer activities and water play is something we do here year round whether we're outside, indoors or just in the tub. I can usually be found at the sprinkler park toting a utility bucket full of unusual items. This is undoubtedly a conversation starter! Some years I have a soggy child or two decked head to toe in waterproof clothing. Some years I have a dry child or two decked head to toe in waterproof clothing. Children generally love to get wet and play in water. Some do not love the "surprise" element of sprinklers and some love it one year and give it a wide berth the next! S has gone through phases of feelings about sprinklers and this year, he's back in with Y right alongside him!
Nonetheless, having something to hold in their little hands makes little ones all the more eager to get in and get wet. Having a nearby waterplay alternative like my "pop-up" water tables made from filling a plastic bin or bowl with water is a great way to be inclusive to those who are hesitant around sprinklers or unable to move about independently. Last summer S even cleverly figured out how to pawn off the job of filling our utility bucket with water for him on a willing and unsuspecting peer. I've written about waterplay take-alongs before, but here is an updated and revised list including a new section of art materials, natural items and some especially for the littlest ones!

Just add water, bring a towel and Happy Playing!

Water Play Take-Alongs

Household Items:

• cups, containers, things you can fill and pour from
• colanders/strainers
• measuring cups & measuring spoons
• large paint brushes & sponge brushes
• scrub brushes and sponges
• recycled plastic containers from produce (the ones with holes in the bottom can be especially fun!), pudding cups/applesauce cups/fruit cups
• spray bottles
• empty condiment bottles for filling/squirting
• utility bucket (great for transporting stuff and filling/pouring)
• plastic bin or large plastic bowl for a “pop-up” water table (great for very little ones or those who are hesitant to get in the sprinkler or pool)
• wash cloths and rags
• Ice! Freeze water in ice cube trays or containers of all shapes/sizes--you can add food coloring, glitter, even small toys

“Non-traditional” Water Toys:

• toy cars and sponges make a great car wash--you can even add shaving cream for suds!
• plastic animals or plastic dinosaurs
• plastic baby dolls and washcloths
• Legos/Duplos or Mega Blocks--if building towers indoors on dry land is fun, think how fun it will be in the sprinkler outside!
• balls/balloons
• plastic food and toy dishes--outdoor tea party, anyone?
• shovels/pales and toys traditionally used in sand are also fun to explore in water
• craft foam shapes and foam puzzle pieces (these make awesome bathtub stickers when wet!)

Natural Materials:

• Sticks and twigs
• Pine cones, seed pods
• Flowers, leaves
• Wood circles, drift wood
• Seashells
• Rocks and large pebbles

Art Materials--just add water!

• Watercolor paints
• Sidewalk chalk
• Watercolor pencils
• Things to paint/color on: Paper, white coffee filters, paper towels, tissue paper
• Things to paint with: paint brushes, sponges, squirt bottles and spray bottles
• Paint with water books (available at Dollar Tree)

For the Very Young:

Set up a “pop-up” water table using a bin or bowl of water (or a few) and choose some add-ins:

• Frozen teething toys (great for teething babies!)
• Teething rings
• Water safe plastic rattles and baby toys
• Any materials from the above list that are not choking hazards

Waterplay Wednesday: The Baby Edition

Water-play is a great introductory sensory activity for very little ones. During the first year, almost every type of play is a sensory experience for babies as they explore textures, colors, and all of their five senses for the first time. With children of all ages, adequate supervision is imperative with water-play, as even a small amount can be a drowning hazard. My son always loved (and still loves) playing in the bathtub, so using our shared apartment complex backyard space for a kiddie pool seemed like a great way to expand on this interest during the summer when he turned one. Because of minimal indoor space and the backyard being a common area, we opted for an inflatable kiddie pool that we could easily store inside under one of our beds. 

If space or comfort level prevent the use of a kiddie pool, large plastic bowls paired with favorite discovery basket items (i.e. kitchen utensils, teething toys, colanders and containers) make for just as much splashing and fun!

discovery basket in action

fishing for teething toys was a favorite activity especially when cutting those first chompers

We have a favorite Shabbat song about preparing chicken soup--we used plastic food and dishes in the kiddie pool for a hands-on backyard rendition of "Put the Chicken in the Pot"

Then, just for fun, we added some "matzo balls!" 

Water-Play Wednesday: Spicing Up the Sprinkler Park

Yes, that's my son holding a plastic shot glass! The first time I took him to a sprinkler park this summer, he was too nervous to get in. Giving him a little cup to hold, fill and pour out helped him feel more comfortable and led to a lot of playful fun!

During our summer routine, I aim to include at least one day a week where we do some water play. We are fortunate enough to live in an apartment complex with a pool and near several wonderful sprinkler parks. Water play is an absolute must for this mama every summer (and admittedly, I find ways to incorporate it indoors either in the bathtub or a shallow plastic bin during the colder months as well). Playing in water is one of those things that just never stops being fun no matter how old you are. I still love running through sprinklers! Being a play-at-home-mom and the summer schedule of a school teacher are definitely conducive to running on a less specific schedule, but getting out of the house is still important both for my son and for me. We live in an area with a lot of low cost/no cost activities for children and families in the summer provided by our parks & recreation department and our library system. More and more sprinkler parks are cropping up these days and they are a wonderful place to take a family field trip. If you don't happen to live near one, I have plenty of wonderful summer memories of running through the hose or sprinkler in my own backyard as a child.

Sprinkler and splash pad play really require no added materials to be fun. That said, I like to spice things up a bit by mixing in some usual and unusual household materials for my son to use and share with other kids at the park. Think of it as instant play activities: just add water! And you can do this at a sprinkler park, in your yard, in the bathtub or pool or water table.

Our Favorite Sprinkler Park Add-ons: Just Add Water!

Household Items: These are items you likely have at home already or that can be purchased from a discount store very inexpensively specifically for sensory play use.

Sprinkler Park Car Wash--great for transportation theme

• cups, containers, things you can fill and pour from
• colanders/strainers
• measuring cups & measuring spoons
• large paint brushes & sponge brushes
• scrub brushes and sponges
• recycled plastic containers from produce (the ones with holes in the bottom can be especially fun!), pudding cups/applesauce cups/fruit cups
• spray bottles
• empty condiment bottles for filling/squirting

Toys: Using water-friendly toys you already have at home or building a collection from second-hand stores or discount stores specifically for sensory play can be a great way to expand water and other sensory play activities. There are a host of "traditional" water and bath toys on the market and a lot of them crop up on the seasonal aisles this time of year. Here's a list of less traditional toys that are fun to add to the water play scene:

• toy cars and sponges make a great car wash--you can even add shaving cream for suds!
• plastic animals or plastic dinosaurs
• plastic baby dolls and washcloths
• Legos/Duplos or Mega Blocks--if building towers indoors on dry land is fun, think how fun it will be in the sprinkler outside!
• Balls, plastic bowling sets
• Plastic food and toy dishes--outdoor tea party, anyone?
• shovels/pales and toys traditionally used in sand are also fun to explore in water

Miscellaneous: Let's think outside the box with this one and include some natural materials, too!

• Craft foam makes an instant bath sticker when wet! You can stick them to the walls, you can stick them your belly, you can stick them on your friend's belly. You can use pre-cut shapes or cut your own. Foam puzzle pieces work the same way (Think: alphabet scavenger hunt at the sprinkler park!)
• Seashells
• Rocks and large pebbles

If you can get it wet and easily transport it, you can bring it with you! Note: we use a large bucket or wash bin to transport materials in and it almost always ends up getting used for play as well. Stay cool and happy playing!