Water Play - 12th January 2022

Room Project - Sensory Play: Today the Joey children played in the possums yard. The educators decided to get water play out for the children. I got the red water trough and then got the hose and pour water in the trough. Nathan and Hunter were eagerly looking on and waiting for the trough to be filled. While it was being filled another educator placed Hunter and Nathan's swimmers on. Once they had their swimmers on they came back over to the water trough and it did not take long before they both were in the trough. They were both splashing about with their hands and Hunter decided it would be more fun if he got back out then straight away got back in because it made a bigger splash.

Some of the possum children came over and placed some containers in the trough but they did not stay because Nathan and Hunter were splashing a lot, they were both laughing. Then they both pick up a container each and scooped some water up and then tipped it back out. By this time some of the other children came in and Jack decided that he would come over to the trough. I encouraged Jack to touch the water with his hands. So Jack put his hands in the water and splashed the water with his hands. Later in the morning Jack decided to take it a step further and hop in the trough with Hunter and Nathan. I asked Jack "is the water was hot or cold" Jack responded "cold". When Elya came in the educators put her in her swimmers and she went over to the trough and also sat in the trough.

Jack had picked up a sandpit shovel and took it over to the trough and was trying to scoop water up with it. Nathan was close by and had a container, he scooped some water up and poured it on Jack's shovel. They played with the water until it was time for nappy change before lunch.

The benefits of water play are as follows: Water Play provides hours of rich and valuable early childhood experiences to develop children's creativity and imagination. Water play is both enjoyable and educational. It helps children develop eye-hand coordination and math and science concepts. It also enhances social skills and encourages cooperation.

Link to Pedagogical Documentation

EYLF Outcomes

Outcomes: 1: Children have a strong sense of identity Elements: 1.1 Children feel safe, secure, and supported. I was close to the water and encouraged the children to join in the water play which lead them to feeling safe and supported in their choice to play with the water.

Theorists

Piaget proposed that children need environmental stimuli and experiences to guide their cognitive development. Through sensory play, he suggested that children digest new knowledge and store it for later reference. In essence, he argued that this type of play was key to a child's brain development.

Interpretation

Critical reflection:I was able to encourage the children to touch and feel the water as some of the children were a bit hesitant at first. I was able to do some intentional teaching by asking questions about if the water was hot or cold. It was a great experience as it was an open ended experience and allowed the children to be involved in a sensory activity. Follow up: Add measuring cups and other containers to water play.