Some suggested activities for use in a water play table, or in your own “shower curtain pool” follow:

o Add unbreakable items and toys / items to the water like cups, funnel, small play balls, floaty toys, plastic toys (metal may rust), turkey basters, measuring cups, sponges of different sizes and colors and so on.

o Give a variety of items to explore and play with whether they are sitting in the water with them or reaching into a basin to play with them.

o If outside and near a spigot, try a gentle water fan sprinkler or garden hose to play with in the basin / shallow pool

o Have a variety of toy boats to play with – see if they can make waves in the water to move the boats from one side to the other; see if they can blow a boat across the basin pretending to be a wind cloud

o Give a variety of toys that have different weights – let them see which ones will float and which ones will sink

o Show them that an empty plastic drinking bottle with the lid on will float, but let them fill the bottle with water and then watch it sink – let them explore and experiment!

o Give them a variety of play dishes, cups, toys that “need washing” – you could use some gentle baby shampoo in the tub to prevent any eye irritation

o Try some colorful water guns for squirting up, out, and to hit targets in the water

o See if they can squeeze all of the water out of a sponge or wash cloth – if you want to let them see how much water “fits” in a sponge or other item that soaks up the water, have them squeeze the water into a bowl or pitcher (then pour it back in the water!)

Sensory Messy Play - Water Play Page 2

Continue to Page 3 for MORE WATER PLAY ACTIVITIES>>>>>>>>