Water play doesn’t have to be only at bath time.

Why do it?

  • Playing with water provides multiple opportunities for open-ended play.
  • It can promote language, cognitive and sensory activities.
  • Water play can be calming, exciting or require focus and concentration.
  • It also supports hand–eye co-ordination.
turned on sprinkler
turned on sprinkler

How to do it

You’ll need: a hot day, a patch of lawn, a sprinkler, your togs.

  • Easy fun: Set up the sprinkler and run through it!
  • Water Olympics: Have baton relays, jump the sprinkler or play catch!
  • Play freeze: Run and dance around the lawn and through the sprinkler, until the leader yells ‘Freeze!’. 
  • Car wash: Pretend you are cars zooming through the water to get clean!

Using more te reo Māori

Te reo Māori English
Run
Water
Jump
Dance
Splashing