Splish Splash! Water play provides fun for kids and leads to learning.
The jury’s out: there are great benefits for children to have fun in the water and the sun. Water play is proven to provide opportunities for children’s learning Plus, it’s a ton of fun!
We asked Dr. Burgess from the Children’s Museum of Memphis about the importance of aquatic exploration, the educational aspects, the benefits for children and how caregivers can engage with one of our most abundant natural resources. Read on to hear what he has to say.
What is water play? Why does it matter?
Water play is any type of play that involves water and allows children to explore its fluid properties with their hands and other objects. It provides a calming sensory experience for children and information on how water works.
When playing with water, children use all five senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch—to gather important information and learn more about the world around them. It encourages curiosity and creates a backdrop that promotes extending play and deeper learning. This makes water play quite beneficial and important for young children to experience.
Do you have to go to a water park to learn these lessons?
You can discover the wonders of water anywhere with your children at home, at school, or in a public setting. At home, curated activities can offer specific opportunities or lessons for learning. For instance, you’ve probably watched your child explore how cups hold and pour water in the bath. This act is more than simple play; it helps develop fine motor skills, and teaches introductory lessons about measurement and volume while contributing to foundational lessons in physics.
When visiting places like CMOM or other public splash pads and water parks, children are exposed to water on a larger scale. They can immerse themselves fully in the water, building their motor skills and expanding their knowledge. Both types of experiences leave lasting impressions and serve as great platforms for learning.
How can I engage with my children and water?
Water can help stimulate creativity and expression because children are forced to create new and unusual ways to manipulate the liquid – and you can aid in the process. Providing toys that allow for scooping and pouring or including water-safe toys that promote storytelling like boats or rubber ducks, you create endless opportunities for examination.
Bath time doesn’t have to be your only opportunity. You can have a blast on a summer afternoon splashing in a stoppered sink, a large water bucket, or even outdoor sprinklers. Play alongside your child as they interact with the water; modeling different kinds of play is one of the best ways to teach young children.
Connecting with water is a fun, exciting way for your children to learn more about the world around them. Monitor your child around water for safety, and remember to enjoy the magical moments of childhood.
And if you’re looking for opportunities to splash around outside of the home, Memphis has an incredible variety of recreation spaces – including opportunities for indoor and outdoor water exploration at CMOM.
The H2Oh! Splash Park is the perfect spot to keep it cool with the kids. With over 7,000 square feet of pure fun, the splash park features jet streams, water tunnels, geysers and more. Swimwear and lawn chairs welcome!
Groups Today:
