Warmer weather encourages creative and fun water play, especially for preschoolers and toddlers who can play for hours with only a bucket of water, outside toys and a vivid imagination. More convenient than going to a public pool or splash park, backyard water fun can be impromptu and include kids of all ages and abilities. Give these ideas a try when turning on the sprinkler or filling the wading pool this summer.
Wash Doll Laundry
Young kids love to do grown-up tasks, especially hanging out laundry to dry. Let the kids wash all the doll clothes and blankets in buckets of warm water with a bit of dish soap. String a clothesline at kid height across the deck or between two heavy chairs and then show the kids how to hang the clothes to dry using clothespins. This is a great activity for working on fine motor skills and concentration.
Experiment with Water
Do various experiments with water, simply to see what happens.
- Place water in shallow dishes and see how long it takes to evaporate.
- See which toys float and which ones sink by dropping them into the wading pool one at a time.
- Toss toys into the pool to see which one makes the biggest splash.
- Show kids how to measure the temperature of water using a thermometer.
- Fill clear jars half full of water and watch what happens when different colours of food coloring are added.
Water Theme Role Plays
Using the sprinkler, a water table, bowls of water, a wading pool and a hose with a sprayer nozzle, kids can pretend to be pirates or explore the underwater world. Let them find treasure at the bottom of the pool, have a water battle using spray bottles, make a storm that has crashing waves or trap a dangerous sea creature. Bring out a few props and snacks relating to the theme and let the kids immerse themselves in the imaginary world.
Water Art
Give the kids water sprayers and sponge brushes, both which can be bought inexpensively at discount stores, and let the kids ‘paint’ with water. Paint playground equipment, fences, sidewalks, garage doors, cars and deck furniture. Since the water evaporates quickly on a hot day the kids can paint everything numerous times.
Water Craft
Easy enough to do at the cottage or while relaxing at the beach, this craft makes a great window decoration. Let the kids draw pictures with washable markers on basket type coffee filters. Using a clean brush and water, paint over top of the picture to make the ink run into each other, creating interesting designs. Let the coffee filter dry and tape to the window for a summer decoration.
Perfect for kids who like sensory activities, water play lets preschoolers learn measuring, simple science concepts and creativity, all while having lots of fun. For other outdoor seasonal activities for young children, check out Exploring Sand with Preschoolers, Exploring Mud with Preschoolers, and Exploring Snow with Preschoolers.
Angela Krueger - As an adoptive parent and PRIDE adoption trainer, Angela uses her insights to help others on their adoption journey.
