Sensory water play!

This week in Toddlers, we embraced and expanded on the children’s growing interest in water play. To build on this interest, we introduced a water wall in the garden, using tubes and funnels to encourage cause-and-effect exploration. As the children poured water through the various openings, they observed how it travelled and flowed, supporting the development of their fine motor skills and early scientific thinking.

To further enhance their sensory experience, we incorporated herbs, flowers and citrus fruits into the water. The fresh scents and varying textures stimulated their sense of smell and touch. This invited curiosity and new language as we discussed the smells and colors together. We also created ice blocks with these items, introducing concepts of temperature and change of state as the children explored melting and observed how the items within the ice were gradually revealed.

We added metal plates and bowls, which introduced reflections into the play environment. The children were fascinated by the shimmering surfaces and their own mirrored images.

The children also took turns pumping the soap dispenser filled with water, fruits and herbs to add more cause and effect to their play, practicing coordination and turn-taking. The children loved the activity and got stuck in straight away.