Here at BestStart Kelvin street our tamariki | children love to explore the texture and properties of water.
It is versatile and can provide a range of experiences for tamariki/children, from calm and soothing to active and energising.
Water play is a form of sensory play; making it inherently sensory-rich, providing tactile experiences that stimulate cognitive growth. It’s open-ended and invites imaginative play, which fuels creativity and problem-solving abilities.
It promotes and encourages social interaction as tamariki | children learn to share resources and collaborate, which are essential skills for social development. The shared experiences also fosters language development as children articulate their play. Through conversations with kaiako | teachers and other tamariki they consider ideas or concepts like heavy/light, sink/ float, shallow/ deep, absorption/non absorption, frozen/liquid.
As tamariki|children scoop, pour, and splash, they engage in exploratory learning, which enhances their understanding of scientific concepts like volume, buoyancy, and cause and effect. Kaiako | teachers further support this understanding by using words to describe what is happening with their play. The manipulation of water aids in refining both gross motor skills and fine motor skills. Lifting, pouring, splashing and stirring strengthen muscles and coordination, laying the groundwork for future physical tasks, including writing.
As tamariki|children make decisions and explore independently, they develop a sense of autonomy. Successfully navigating water play tasks boosts self-confidence and a sense of achievement. By embracing the benefits of water play, teachers are creating rich and engaging learning experiences that ripple through a child’s development, laying a strong foundation for lifelong learning.