Children Educational Toys
Water isn’t just for drinking and washing in — it can be a playground and an educational, exercise-promoting toy for children of all ages.
By James Tweedie
Playing in water stimulates not only children’s minds but their senses as well. It helps them build confidence and overcome their fears of water and bathing, and can foster a love of swimming and the open water.
A great variety of water games can safely be played in the the bath, the sink, bowls and tubs, garden paddling pools and larger swimming pools.
In The Bath
A few bath toys or even kitchen objects can turn bath time into playtime, while bubble bath just adds to the fun. You can use cups and sponges to collect and pour water, while a large spoon or ladle can be employed to scoop out balls of bubble foam. Colanders and funnels can be used to teach children how water collects and flows.
Water pistols are always fun, but you can use rinsed-out washing-up liquid bottles if you don’t have any. Toy boats are an obvious choice, and you can make one quickly from paper once you learn how.
Paddling Pools
You can play the same bath time games outside in a paddling pool on a sunny day, but you should always remember to put on plenty of sunblock. Water pistols are more fun and less messy outdoors. If you’re worried about your water bill then you can recycle contents of the paddling pool for your lawn and flowerbeds.
Sink or Float?
A fun, educational game is to gather various objects and then ask your child whether they think they will sink or float in the bath, sink or a bowl of water. The mysteries of relative density and Archimedes’ principle of displacement will become as clear as, well, water.
Washing Up For Juniors
A little responsibility and a few little chores can be fun, instructive and character-building for children. Why not give them the task of washing all their toys every so often? It’s never too early to learn how to wash toy tea sets, dolls’ clothes plastic woodwork tools. Toys (and children) pick up dirt easily, but a quick wash and rinse can quickly make them look like new again.
Experiments With Water
Water’s natural properties, its low boiling and high freezing point and its ability to dissolve most substances, lend it to use in educational experiments. Apart from adding soap or detergent to create bubbles, a small amount of safe, non-toxic food colouring will rapidly change the colour of water. You can add different colours to show children how they combine to make new colours — but be careful as it can easily stain clothing. You can also freeze water into different shapes in plastic containers.
Safety First
Teaching and maintaining water safety is very important. You should always check the temperature of water and top it up with hot or cold water as necessary. Children should never be left alone when playing in water — the risks may seem small, but accidents do happen and the consequences can be tragic.
Children Educational Toys