Garden Splash Tray
What you need
- a shallow tray or washing-up bowl with a little water
- a couple of plastic cups
- a few big dry leaves
How to do it
- On a warm day, put a shallow tray with a little water on the grass.
- Sit beside it and pat the water, then let them pat and splash.
- Float a few big leaves and let them push them about.
- Pour water from a cup and let them try.
Why it matters
Water outside means splashing is fine, and leaves that float and cups that pour give them plenty to find out.
What they're learning
- Cause and effect
- A pat makes a splash, every time.
- Floating
- Leaves stay on top of the water however hard they're pushed.
- Pouring
- Tipping a cup is an early pouring try.
What to look for
Watch for them pushing a leaf under and watching it bob back up.
A tip
Only a couple of centimetres of water, and stay within arm's reach the whole time. Tip it away as soon as you finish.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: just patting and splashing, nothing in the water
Harder: add a second tray and let them carry water from one to the other in a cup
More like this
Browse
Sensory activities · Activities for 1 year olds · Activities for 18 month olds · Toddler activities with a bowl · Toddler activities with cups · Toddler activities with a tray · Toddler water activities