Summer-time is our favourite time of year. The days are longer and everyone is happy to be outdoors in the sunshine. And of course the most important thing about summer is playing in water!

We love water play! Water play is a sensory activity that combines learning with fun. Water play serves so many purposes – and not just to cool us down on hot days. Here’s a few reasons why your children will be splish-splashing with us this summer!

Develop Motor Skills

When playing with toys in a tub of water, children will increase their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination through actions like pouring, squirting, scrubbing, stirring and squeezing. Water play also introduces children to textures and temperatures.

Learn problem solving skills

Discovering the way water works will help teach children important skills. For example if they are watching a something heavy (such as a stick) sink in the water; or something lighter such as a leaf float, they will learn how and why things happen. This encourages imagination and develops creative thinking which plays an important role in problem-solving.

Increase language

Oh the stories children can learn, tell and make up as they play in water. Tales of boats and fish and pirates and mermaids. There’s so much adventure tied up in a tub of water; and your little one will love sharing and re-telling these stories when you pick them up at the end of the day!

Teach about science and mathematics

Through water play, children learn about measurements. We play games that teach them about the bucket being full, or half full, or empty. They observe motion and compare volumes. And all while getting refreshingly wet and having fun.

But the most important part of water play is that it’s fun! Water can be invigorating as they splash and make a mess, or can be calming and tranquil as they play quietly with toys or feel the water through their hands.

Kids On Beaufort have a great undercover area that we set up with water play activities that are safe and suitable for all ages. So when you send your kids to Kids on Beaufort this summer, maybe send along an extra set of clothes for your child. Because we’re gonna get wet!