Ideas for Water Play

• Fill a plastic wading pool with two inches of warm water. Dress the infant in swimming diapers. Lay the infant on her back in the pool. Float soft plastic toys in the water around the infant. Do not leave the infant unattended during play.
• Pour a little water on an infant highchair tray. Let the infant pat his hands in the water. Talk with the infant about how the water feels ("The water feels cold" or "The water feels slippery").
• Pour two inches of water into a plastic dishpan. Provide plastic cups and show the ones how to scoop water from the dishpan. Provide plastic floating toys.
• Ones will enjoy plastic wading pools. Fill the pools with two inches of water. Like infants, ones need to wear swimming diapers during this type of water play. Add colorful toys.

Appropriate Water Toys for Infants

Choose safe toys for infants and ones to use during water play.

• Plastic cups
• Large, soft floating toys
• Plastic boats
• Balls

What Does the Child Learn?

• Small muscle development in hands
• Hand to eye coordination
• Muscle development in arms and legs
• Colors, shapes, and sizes

Language Development

• how the water feels.
• the color of the toys.
• the sizes and shapes of the toys