WATER PLAY.. SIMPLE HOW-TO AND THE WHY BEHIND THE PLAY

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Animal Washing Station… We used our favorite animals, but you should use anything your children are interested in.  Truck washing, baby-doll washing, dish washing, it all works the same.  

We used soap, sponges, an old toothbrush and dishwashing tool, some little cups and pitchers, and of course… WATER! We also set this activity up in our IKEA sensory table, but any old bins and buckets on the floor work just as well.  

Why is water play a great activity for YOU?

  1. You can use things you already have

  2. It is basically free

  3. Your child will likely play for a long time even though the activity takes less than five minutes to set up.

  4. There very little mess to clean up. It is probably the cleanest mess your child will ever make.

  5. Your child will probably get soap and water all over themselves so you can count it as a bath

Why is water play great for your child?

  1. Your child will be exploring washing, which is a something they’ve been experiencing their whole lives. Having the opportunity to master their own life experiences by repeating them on a smaller scale helps them process and make sense of their world. 

  2. They are playing with concepts like empty and full, cause and reaction, wet and dry.  They are using their developing muscles to work up a lather and fine motor skills to fill and pour. 

  3. They will inevitably spill and be given the opportunity to wipe up after themselves in a no-pressure situation.  Sometimes a big spill during dinner-time can feel overwhelming and upsetting. Letting them clean up these smaller spills allows for the opportunity to practice and master the skill of mopping up on their own terms.  

  4. Private Speech:  When you child is engaged in this washing station, you will likely hear them chatting away with themselves.  Why does this matter? Private speech is an indicator of cognitive development.  It is so important for language development, self-regulation and problem solving.  (Plus, it is so darn sweet to listen to.)

How to support your child in playing successfully with water: 

Give them space. Don’t ask a million questions, do not direct the play or micro manage spillage.  It’s just water after all.  Do not worry about regulating the amount of soap or water.  That is not the point here.  The goal is to allow them to engage in self-directed play.  Give yourself permission to let your child use as much as they want.   A little trick? Save old soap bottles and just fill them with about an inch of soap and the rest water.  That way they can still make lots of soapy bubbles and you do not need to worry about wasting.  

Do stay nearby, but be engaged in your own work.  When they try to draw you in and ask you to play, simply say, “I am dong my work while you do yours.”  Be nice, but boring. When they ask you questions and try to chat with you, act very interested in whatever you are doing. 

I am providing a materials list for this project, but PLEASE do not feel that you need to buy anything.  Be creative and use what you have around the house. Bins, buckets or the bathtub work! 

 If there is one thing you should buy if you don’t already have one, it is this water dispenser. 

Why? It helps children be independent, and you don’t need to continually get up and retrieve more water.  Using a self-serve jug encourages self-regulation.  Children learn more and faster about how much soap and water they need when they can do it themselves.  


Materials List 

Water Jug

IKEA Sensory Table

Animals

Scrub Brush

Baby Soap

Metal Cups

If this post was interesting to you, you also might like THIS post.

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you want to hear more from me, please be sure to subscribe to my blog and join the conversation over on Instagram.  

-Lizzie 

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