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By
Catherine M. Pruissen
Measuring,
pouring, building, checking out which objects float
or sink, it's science at its best at the sand and
water centre. Here children can spend hours on end
using sponges, strainers, baisters, shovels, and so
on to play and have fun while learning a great many
things like how objects can change their physical
shapes. They can build their coordination skills by
pouring without spilling, or build a sand castle with
other children while learning the all-important social
skills. What's more, water and sand are great things
to touch.
Plastic
water and sand tables can be purchased through toy
and equipment suppliers. No money for that? A washtub
on the table (surrounded by plastic covering of course),
or a play session in the sink can work wonders just
the same. A simple sand box with a covering will make
for hours of great fun outside during the summer months.
You can bring the sand in in a smaller box for winter
enjoyment.
Sand
and Water Centre Materials
Items
needed for a great water and sand centre include:
- sand/water
tables (tubs, boxes, etc.)
- non-toxic
sand
- plastic
bibs or aprons
- buckets
- shovels
- sieves
- strainers
- funnels
- plastic
containers of all sizes including measuring instruments
things that float things that sink.
Optional
items might include:
-
cars, tractors, trucks
- farm
animals
- wire
whisks, egg beaters
- baisters
- dolls,
etc.
For
more information on setting up play centres in your
home or daycare centre, consult the wonderful book,
Start and Run a
Profitable Home Day Care, and check out these
other related articles:
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©
Catherine M. Pruissen
Catherine M. Pruissen is the CEO of About Child Care
Consumer Services and developer of child care online.
She has published numerous child care related literature,
including Start and
Run a Profitable Home Day Care, The
Daycare Alternative, How to Find Good Child Care,
Caregiver Aids: Business
Forms for Caregivers and Parents, Income
Tax & Record Keeping for Child Care Providers,
and a host of workshops and workbooks. She was the editor
and publisher of the bi-monthly newsletter, Parent Care,
Your Child Care News-line. Catherine was also the coordinator
and workshop facilitator for The Child Care Information
Centre in Calgary, Alberta, and ran a successful dayhome
for eight years. |
