Today it was a hot day and perfect time for 'Water Play' activity. Under hot, shining sun, kids enjoyed playing with water. Students were allowed to bring their water guns, and after getting some instructions for safety and precaution, they started playing water games. The ground looked like a battle field where kids were shouting, running and throwing water at each other with their water guns.
Kids throwing water at each other |
We know that play is essential for children’s development and it helps children to improve their gross, fine motor, co-ordination and concentration skills.
Importance and learning benefits of water play for kids:
Playing with water fosters learning in all developmental areas. It provides opportunities for children to experiment with math and science concepts, strengthen their physical skills, advance their social and emotional skills, and enhance language development.
Water and a few inexpensive tools can provide a sensory and learning experience.
Free play with water can be a source of learning scientific concepts such as
- Physics (flow, motion),
- Chemistry (solutions, cohesion),
- Biology (plant and animal life), and
- Mathematics (measurement, equivalence, volume).
A group picture after finishing their water play. Their smiling faces are proof that it was a really fun time. |
Children were monitored by teachers to make them feel that 'we love to enjoy play together, but with responsibility and following the safety rules'. The whole activity which looked like a "water war" was ended without any unfavorable incident.
Today's 'water play activity' helped children learn social skills and cooperation. I am happy to say that children tried to keep their promise to be careful during their water play. Kids learned how to work cooperatively and collaboratively, using all their senses to discover and explore their environment, and develop their imagination, creative thinking and ability to problem solve and experiment with solutions.