Children love playing with water. That is one of the reasons why most preschool classrooms have a water table. My students visit the area frequently. Give a child a tub of water, cups and a funnel and they will fill and pour the water endlessly.
I have a water table in my classroom and use different hands-on activities every week. Using the table gives the children opportunities for important sensory experiences. They feel, squeeze, pour, poke, and explore the materials in the table.
Children love playing with water and the things they see adults using, I put turkey basters and cups in the table. The children squeeze the water out of the turkey baster and into the cup. Counting how many times needed to fill the cup will add math to the fun. Another squeezing activity is to add sponges to the table and have the children squeeze out the water.
Small eye droppers or pipettes can keep the children’s interest as they squeeze and develop small muscles. Children can see how many drops of water fit on a penny or in a bottle cap.
Put a squirt of dish soap in the water and add toys, dolls, sponges and brushes to wash toys. The children will enjoy the bubbles and have clean toys when done.
Sensory Water Table
My grandson who is 4 years old comes to my house frequently. Of course, I bought him a sensory/water table, but he keeps it at his house and uses it often. At my house I fill up the kitchen sink with water, soap and measuring cups. He plays in the water for a long time. While he is playing, he is learning math skills as well as encouraging creativity and imagination.
A website that explains the benefits of water play for children is https://kidscraftroom.com/benefits-water-play/.
Children can find water play calming while pouring, using droppers, or swirling their hand in the water. They can also find water invigorating while splashing and slapping their hand on the water. Either way they are learning social skills, math skills and using their imagination. I can not think of a better way of learning than using this fun sensory experience.
The children can then sit down and relax. Reading a book such as Follow Breza to Preschool is a great way of doing that.
