The Benefits of Water Play in Early Childhood

Water play is an enjoyable and enriching activity that stimulates the senses, curiosity, and creativity of children. At Starfish Early Learning Centre (ELC), water play forms part of our educational program, thanks to its enormous benefits for children’s physical, cognitive, and social development. 

In this article, we’ll explore what water play entails, its benefits, and how families can enjoy it at home.

What is Water Play?

Water play is an open-ended activity that gives children the opportunity to experiment, learn, and have fun. It enhances creativity, problem-solving, and discovery, crucial in early childhood education.

Water play consists of activities where children engage with water in many forms, including pouring, splashing, scooping, and investigating various materials related to water. This sensory play involves utensils like buckets, sponges, cups, and toys that provide options for exploration. This can be indoors or outdoors in water tables, paddling pools, or natural bodies of water under supervision.

The Benefits of Water Play

Water play is not only enjoyable but also aids in development;

Physical Development

Fine Motor Skills: Activities such as pouring water or squeezing sponges strengthen hand-eye coordination and refine dexterity.

Gross Motor Skills: Water games, such as splashing or using larger buckets, enhance balance, coordination, and overall strength.

Cognitive Growth

Problem-Solving: Experimenting with water and other mediums (such as sand, paint, paper and clay) give children the opportunity to think like a scientist, coming up with hypotheses and then finding out if they were right or wrong.

Maths Skills: Measuring and comparing volumes of water introduces early numeracy concepts related to capacity and size.

Language Development: Describing water play experiences helps children broaden their vocabulary and express themselves.

Social and Emotional Benefits

Teamwork: Group water play activities encourage collaboration, sharing, and turn-taking skills.

Emotional Regulation: The nature of water soothes and helps children regulate their emotions and reduce stress.

Sensory Development

Water play is a sensory activity that involves the sense of touch, vision, and sometimes even hearing. Pouring, splashing, and feeling the different temperatures of water stimulate nerve pathways and allow children to develop greater awareness and understanding of the world around them.

Water Play Activities

Water play activities can be as simple or as elaborate as the age and interest of the child require. Here are a few ideas:

Pouring and Scooping: Using cups and funnels to pour water between containers helps develop fine motor skills and introduces basic maths and physics concepts (ie full/empty, gravity, velocity, etc).

Sink or Float Experiments: Encourage children to predict which objects will sink or float and then test their predictions.

Coloured Water Mixing: Allow mixing of colours by adding colouring into water. This may teach them colour theory.

Water Painting: Allow children to “paint” outdoor surfaces like concrete or fences using brushes and water.

Ice Exploration: Freeze small toys or other objects in ice and let the children discover them through melting by water or tools.

Having Fun with Water Play Activities at Home

Water play can easily fit into daily routines with a little imagination and only a few props. Here are ways water play can be enjoyed at home:

Bathtime Fun: Extend bath time and make it learn from playtime by adding accessories such as cups, sponges, and floating toys that your child can experiment with.

Outdoor Water Tables: Set up a small water table with scoops, funnels, and toys to encourage independent play.

Water Walls: Make a water wall with recycled bottles and pipes for children to pour water through.

Sprinkler Games: Allow children to run around in sprinklers on warm days, integrating physical activity into the water play.

Sensory Bins: Place water in a container and add various objects such as marbles, toy boats, or sponges for sensory discovery.

Remember, during water play, especially with young children, it is very important to keep a close eye on them to ensure their safety at all times. Children should never be left alone in the bath or with any other water play experience.

Making a Splash in Early Childhood Learning

Water play is one of the staples in early learning centres, with endless opportunities for learning, creativity, and fun. At Starfish ELC, we incorporate water play into our educational programs to support physical, cognitive, social, and sensory growth. We encourage exploration and discovery to help children build these essential skills while fostering a love for learning.

To learn more about our play-based learning approach and how water play fits into our curriculum, visit our website. If you’re ready to join the Starfish ELC family, contact us today.

FAQs

How does water help with learning?
Water engages multiple senses, promoting hands-on learning and problem-solving. Activities like pouring, scooping, and experimenting with objects in water encourage critical thinking, fine motor skills, and early numeracy concepts.

Does water play improve child focus?
Yes, water play can enhance focus by providing a calming and immersive activity. The repetitive actions and soothing nature of water help children concentrate on tasks and stay engaged for longer periods.

Does water play help neurodiverse children?

Water play can be beneficial for children of all developmental levels, as well as those with

additional challenges such as autism and ADHD, as it offers a sensory-rich and calming

environment. It helps them regulate emotions, improve focus, and channel energy into

constructive experiences.

Does water play improve memory skills?
Yes, water play enhances memory by encouraging children to engage in experiments, follow sequences, and recall outcomes. Activities like colour mixing or sink-and-float experiments require children to remember and apply concepts, reinforcing cognitive skills.