Your Little Child Needs a Filling Station
Young children like to transfer liquid from one container to another, but they can’t. This is because accurate pouring is not a skill that can be learned by watching another person do it; they must practice it themselves in order to learn how to control the flow.
I’ve written in the past that water is the best way to raise children , and this idea, suggested by Susie Ellison of Busy Toddler , further reinforces that point: Allison pulls out a plastic tub and about 10 different drinking cups, small jugs and measuring cups ( if you have a plastic tea set, so much the better), adds a little water – the amount “depends on the child and his mood” – and lets him start pouring.
Depending on the development of their motor skills and interest, many children are ready to try these activities from about 18 months old (or even earlier), and they are likely to enjoy it in preschool. The first few times you do this exercise, you can place it in the bathtub, outside, or on the kitchen floor with a towel under the container. Once they have a little practice, they can move on to the kitchen table.
Ellison also says she adds a little food coloring to liven things up a bit, but just a few drops so they don’t stain clothes or a towel.
Here are some more water play ideas to help you get through the summer: