Age
⚙ 1.5 years and up
Time and Place
⚙ Any time of day, preferably during or after rainfall
⚙ Any time of the year when the temperature is above freezing
⚙ Outdoors
Materials
⚙ A ruler or a stick
Optional Materials
⚙ Water toys or objects to place in puddles
⚙ Water to make puddles
Safety
⚙ Supervise children at all times
⚙ Dress children appropriately for water exploration (e.g., rubber boots, splash pants, water sandals, bathing suit)
Instructions
Play-based Context
Accompany children to a safe outdoor area, preferably during or after a rainy day. Let the children explore the puddles (e.g., walking or jumping in them, placing objects in them). If appropriate, talk with the children about the puddles' size, shape, and depth, and the amount and distance of splashes. Challenge children to make their own puddle. Optional: Encourage the children to put together a 'puddle exploration kit' including tools to measure the depth of the puddles and object they would like to place in the puddle.
Questions You May Ask
⚙ Where are the puddles?
⚙ Why are there puddles?
⚙ How deep is this puddle?
⚙ How can you make a splash?
⚙ How can you make your splash go [further, higher]?
⚙ How can you make a puddle?
⚙ How can we make this puddle larger?
Related Children's Books
⚙ Puddles by Jonathan London
⚙ Puddles!!! by Kevan Atteberry
⚙ Puddle by Hyewon Yum
Young children are fascinated by puddles and enjoy exploring them in different ways (e.g., jumping in them, throwing objects in them).
