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What are we learning to do when we play with water? (Learning Goals for children who are 12-22 months old).
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
o Play alongside others
o Use a familiar adult as a secure base from which to explore independently in a new environment
o Play cooperatively with a familiar adult
Communication, Language and Literacy
o Use gestures, sometimes with limited talk
o Concentrate intently on an object or activity of their own choosing for short periods
o Understand simple sentences
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
o Explore objects by linking together
o Use different approaches: shaking, hitting, looking feeling, pulling, turning and poking
o Enjoy playing with small world models such as a boat or sea creatures.
Mathematics
o Enjoy filling and emptying containers
o Use some language of quantities, such as ‘more’ and ‘a lot’.
Physical Development
o Pick up small objects between thumb and fingers
o Enjoy the sensory experience of making marks in damp sand, paste or paint
o When sitting, can lean forward to pick up small toys
Expressive arts and design
o Experiment with blocks, colours and marks
o Imitates and improvises actions they have observed, e.g. clapping or waving
Supporting your child is essential
What to say ?
o Swirl the water around!
o Can you fill up the plastic bottle?
o Can you empty the jug?
o Let’s make something nice to drink!
o Which one will float/sink?
o Let’s mix the water!
o Can you splash with your hands/feet?
o Can you see the bubbles?
o Can you make waves like the sea?
o Can you make rain?
Praising your child!
o “I Like the way you ….”
o “I’m proud of you!”
o “You shared nicely with your friend.”
o “Wow, that’s great splashing in the water!
o “Superstar!”
Water Play at Home
o Things to play with in water
o strainer
o old teapot
o toy buckets
o jugs and containers
o sponges
o small watering can
o funnel
o whisk
o plastic bottles
o toothbrushes
o paint brushes
Key words to use when playing in water:
o bubbles sink
o drip drop empty
o full pour
o splash stir
o wet float
o sink
o empty
o pour
o stir
o float
Parent Tips
o Try and sit at your child’s eye level, so you are eye to eye with them when you play.
o Children should always be supervised by an adult when playing in or with water.
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