Experimenting, exploring, creating and communicating through the activity is more important than expecting the children to achieve an end goal - for example, successfully catching all the fish in 'Sponge fish'.
Water world
* Using a range of underwater animals, encourage the children to play with them in water or in a bowl of pretend water made of strips of crepe or cellophane paper.
* Sing little rhymes such as the one below while the children play.
(To the tune of 'Wheels on the bus') 'I have a little fish, who goes wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.
I have a little fish, who goes wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
All day long.
I have a baby seal, who goes splish, splash, splosh....
I have a big whale who goes, swish, swash, swish...
I have a tiny crab, who goes nip, pinch, nip...'
Hanging out the washing
* Gather a range of baby clothes or dolls' clothes. Place them in a basket.
* Put out another basket with pegs in.
* Allow the children to explore the contents of the baskets. Encourage them to place the pegs around the edge of the basket, and to look at and name the pieces of clothing.
* Hang a string or ribbon at low level (always supervise children around this and remove when not using).
* Demonstrate hanging up a few of the items and invite the children to help. Let them take over with you in the support role.
* You could let them wash the clothes, wring them out and repeat the above.
Bubbles, bubbles
* Place a bowl of warm water beside each child. It is easier if each has their own bowl, but sharing is fine. Offer the children some soap or bubble bath (be aware of children's allergies). Let them create 'suds' by manipulating the water.
* Offer a selection of sponges, loofas, cloths and so on.
* Encourage free play, or offer small items for them to clean, such as bath toys or small dolls.
Kitchen gadget fun
* Gather a range of kitchen gadgets like those in the photograph - sieves, colanders, lemon squeezers, whisks and rice balls.
* Place these near a shallow tray of water and allow the children to explore with the equipment.
* Add washing-up liquid to the water and allow the children to observe the changes as they whisk the water or let the water run through the sieve.
* As an alternative, add jelly crystals, bubble bath or food colourings or flavourings (beware of children's allergies) to the water.
Sponge fish
* Cut out and create a set of fish shapes made from sponge. You could buy some ready-made from ELC or Mothercare.
* Place the shapes into a bowl of water.
* Offer the children small pet shop 'fish' nets, a spatula, a ladle or a scoop to 'catch' the fish.
* Offer challenges, suggesting they catch the 'blue' fish or the 'big' fish and so on.
Outdoor art
* Gather a range of brushes and water applicators like those in the picture -paint brushes, scrubbing brushes, paint rollers and so on.
* Provide the children with a small container of water and invite them to apply the water to the wall or pavement using the different applicators.
* As an alternative, hang a piece of lining paper to a fence or wall.
* Add poster paint to the water and let the children paint using the different applicators.
PLEASE NOTE: Any activity involving small items that could be swallowed must be closely supervised by an adult.
