This weekend was a watery one at our house. We watched the ship on which our son is stationed and 30 others in a Fleet Review. Then, the next day we had a picnic down at the beach with our granddaughter. It just seems to flow (pardon the pun) to suggest a water-play activity for today.
This can be as easy as pulling a chair up to the sink, putting in the plug, partially filling it with water and adding some small plastic bowls and bottles. If your child is still quite young, show how water sits in a spoon, but not a cup. Or try a small bowl and a sieve. What happens when you pour water from a big container into a little one? Use a straw and blow bubbles. For an older child, show how water always takes the shape of the container. Does a bottle of water stay in a bottle shape when it’s poured? How many little cups fill a big one? Are any containers the same size? How could you measure?
Not only is there lots of science and math learning, there is special language and vocabulary, too: pour, fill, empty, flow, liquid, etc. Plus, water play is very relaxing and can be used to calm down an anxious or over-active child. (There was another watery activity, yesterday. Not only was my son helmsman for the Fleet Review and Inspection, but he’s now off to sea and it will be fall before he’s home. I couldn’t help a few proud and miss-you tears.)
