Splish, splosh!

When the rain came back this autumn, I was outside trying to negotiate the dips in the pavement without getting my feet wet when I saw a toddler with his father just ahead of me. The young boy was fully kitted out in brightly coloured wellingtons, mackintosh and rain hat. He was positively bouncing with joy. He went into the shallow puddles with feet full down, and then experimented by going in on tippy-toe. With a short run-up, the toddler went for the more exciting dips with both feet together. His father was patient and they worked their way along the street, splashing as they went.

The whole scene was a lovely reminder of how much young children enjoy water. They like it in any form, so long as they can access it hands-on, or in this case, wellies-on.

0-12 months

Babies experience water through their bathtime routines. A gentle approach can ensure that even the more cautious babies begin to relish the sensation of warm water. The rather unco-ordinated kicking of young babies has the interesting result for them of moving the water around - simple baby cause-and-effect.

Once older babies can sit up securely, they can also enjoy poking and splashing the water in a low level container. Soon they may be able to stand against a water tray - of course, you are right beside them, so they are safe. They will enjoy the effect of using their hands on the water itself and pushing around a few items that float, or sit intriguingly at the bottom of the tray.

1-2 years

Toddlers are as interested in taking part in daily routines that involve water as in doing activities that adults see more as play. They are very flexible about what is worth doing. They like to help with washing or cleaning up, and there are many safe ways for adults to welcome their involvement.

Of course, toddlers also like to use their physical skills with play materials in a water tray or bowl. They are intrigued to use a range of small containers, little jugs or simple domestic implements like sieves.

When you watch toddlers, you can see how they explore what happens to the water with these items. They use their current skills to pour, tip and 'watch what happens if...'

2-3 years

Young children like to experience water directly and, like the toddler I watched playing outdoors in the puddles, they are intrigued enough to want to make physical contact. A two-year-old will be interested in the weather and will watch the flow of water along a slope, down the drain or off the roof. In warmer weather they can be curious about how the rainwater dries and disappears when the sun shines on it.

Two-year-olds can be enthusiastic wipers and cleaners when enlisted to help with domestic routines. With encouragement they will have learned simple hygiene such as washing their hands, a routine that can be especially fun with nice soap and bubbles. Watering plants indoors and outdoors is also likely to be a popular pastime.

In their play and indoor activities, two-year-olds' interest in water can support their understanding of ideas like 'wet' and 'dry'. They can explore in a vital, hands-on way all the stages between dry, a bit wet and very wet. These ideas make sense to them as they explore with sand and water.

Young children can also enjoy and learn from simple cooking activities as they mix and stir, perhaps adding liquid to a biscuit mix, where there is a good reason to get the balance right between enough liquid, not enough and too much.

Related features in Nursery World:

* Jennie Lindon, 'Splashing out', 6 May 1999

* Alice Sharp, 'Elements of success', 10 May 2001