Water play is soothing. Splashing and dipping in water is a stress reliever for both children and adults. You may find that your toddler is drawn to water, wanting to play in the sink or puddles. You must always supervise your young child around water. Drowning can occur with even a small amount of water.

Boats That Float

Your toddler will enjoy helping to make these boats as much as playing with them. You can also use plastic container lids for small craft.

• Let your child use the markers to color and decorate the Styrofoam.

• Cut a small paper triangle with two horizontal slits.

• Thread the paper triangle onto the straw to make a flag.

• Place the blob of playdough in the bottom of the tray to hold the flag.

Glacier Creatures

This is a good opportunity to talk about temperature and melting. Be sure to choose toys that are not a choking hazard.

• Place a toy in the plastic container.

• Fill the container with water and freeze.

• When the “glacier” is frozen, remove from the mold and add to your child's warm play water.

Water-Play Accessories

Most young children love to play in the water. If you don't have a sand/water table, a dish bin will work just as well. Your toddler may enjoy simply splashing in the water, but you enhance his enjoyment by adding a few props.

• The next time your child is playing with water, try adding some of these toys and props:

  • Plastic or metal tubes or pipes

  • Straws

  • Squeeze bottles

  • Corks

  • Strainers or sieves

  • Funnels

  • Basters

  • Floating toys