What you need
- Small plastic animal toys, or small toy cars – they will get wet so make sure they can withstand some splashing
- A set of plastic stacking cups, plastic food containers or other objects which will float in water
The steps
- On or just after a rainy day, find some puddles. If this isn't practical fill a large container, like a bucket, with water or even do the activity in the bath.
- Float the stacking cups in the water and show your toddler how you can add a small toy to the cup and keep the ‘raft’ floating.
- Let your toddler add toys to the rafts and experiment with how many can be added before they sink, and which sized animals fit on each raft.
- With experience they might show that they realise that smaller toys fit best on the smaller rafts, and bigger toys can fit on the bigger rafts.
Benefits for your child
- This activity helps your child to begin to make sense of volume and capacity, as well as understanding what materials float and what sinks.
- Giving them the chance to play with the items and experiment freely with the water and 'rafts' means your child will get real-life experience of these complex concepts, which is essential to support their understanding as they grow.
Building on
- Offer your child smaller rafts, or larger items, and see how they adjust their expectations of what will float.
- Try offering your child small items which are heavier than the ones they've been using. Will they be able to make these float?
Safety note: Never leave your child unsupervised around water, no matter how shallow the water is.