We started with just a plastic shoe box filled about half way with warm water. I put another container to the side, dumped in some animal beads, and gave Quinn a slotted spoon to let him start scooping.
To give him some variety, I also got out a mesh strainer. It was a little bit harder to use because of the design of the plastic frame, which has small hangers on the side for easier rinsing. We talked about the different animals he was finding and when Quinn seemed to be tiring of scooping those, I added some brightly colored pony beads to the water.
I also added a bigger, serving size slotted spoon, a pair of tongs, and a whisk to his disposal. Quinn loves to practice with his tongs. After a few minutes, I added his favorite character, Blippi, figurines to the water. We talked about how the beads and Blippi all sank. To keep him interested, I got out my collection of wine corks (I save them for crafts), and he, of course, had to dump the entire box in 🙄.
He was very entertained with the corks and played with them for some time. He even made his own addition and took his bink out of his mouth and dropped it into the water so that he could fish it out 🤣.
Look at him plotting his next move 😆.
He went back and forth with the different tools, using them to retrieve different items, like the whisk to get the corks.
He also really liked throwing Blippi back in, under the corks so that he could find him again 😂.
The last trick up my sleeve was a box of milk jug lids. I’ve been saving them for a really long time so I have several. My plan was to use a few. Quinn’s plan was.......to dump them all in 🙄🤦🏻♀️.
We talked about the different colors, counted them, and said that they float because they’re light in weight. Unsurprisingly, the shoe box was completely overloaded and everything began getting strewn everywhere.
That’s when I decided to wrap it. I asked Quinn to help me take everything out of the water so that we could sort it and put it away. He’s not yet able to sort, officially, but he can hand me named items when asked (Ex. “Hand me the corks, please”). He was soaked by the time everything got out of the water (shocker 🙄🤪) so we had to go for a new diaper and change of clothes. Well, pants anyway. The milk lids ended up in a big mess so when I told him we needed to clean them up, he went to get his broom 🥰. He has such a good intentioned heart.
We played with this water tub the next day, too. I limited the scooping supplies to just the corks and some animal finger puppet bath toys.
He insisted on sitting on my lap and I was smarter and put a towel down first 😉.
Do you see my hand behind his butt? That was to prevent a “sit.” 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
Things Quinn learned about:
Colors
Counting
Fine motor squeezing
Scooping
Sink or float
Sorting
Problem solving-using different tools to retrieve different objects, and how to remove the corks from the whisk.
Things Mom learned about:
Water goes everywhere when Quinn is involved
Mom should always bring a towel
Quinn is a cat and if he fits, he (tries to) sits
What made this activity successful:
Presenting lots of options to extend the play but not giving them all at once. When he started to seem tired of doing something, I gave him a new tool or object.
It also helped that he was a in mood that was receptive to learning.
He had my undivided attention, aside from the picture taking.
**Unofficial credentials: I worked in Early Childhood Education for 8 years for two home visiting based programs. (In case you’re wondering 😉).
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