Educational water programs in daycare centers

Water is for more than just washing! Find out how water games, experiments and nature experiences promote children’s motor, cognitive and social development. Get practical tips and suggestions for your day-to-day work at the daycare center now.

Water is an indispensable element in our lives. It is not only an essential resource, but also a fascinating medium for children to learn, play and discover the world around them. This educational program on the topic of water is designed to help children aged 3-6 recognize water as a valuable resource, explore its physical properties and have fun learning and playing with water.

Exploring the element of water in daycare has many meanings. On the one hand, it enables children to gain fundamental experiences in various developmental areas, and on the other hand, it helps to promote awareness of the environment and sustainability from an early age. The following text highlights in detail the relevance of water in educational work with children aged 3-6 years.

The impact of water on child development

Water as a medium for sensory experiences

Childhood is characterized by discoveries that are mainly made through sensory experiences. The element of water, in all its versatility and unpredictability, offers an almost endless source of possibilities. It not only stimulates the imagination, but also serves as a valuable educational tool to promote children’s sensory perception.

Touch and feel: A child’s first encounter with water, whether in a tub, a lake or even a small cup, is often one of wonder and curiosity.

• Temperature: Children quickly learn the difference between warm and cold water. This insight promotes an understanding of temperature differences that exist not only in water but also in the environment as a whole.
• Movement: When a child moves their hand through water, they feel resistance. This sense of water “pushing back” helps them understand cause and effect.
• Consistency: Unlike more solid materials like sand or stone, water has a unique liquid consistency. It flows around hands, but can still be contained in containers. This paradox fascinates children and encourages them to think.

Look at: Water is transparent, yet it affects how we see the world, especially when it acts as a lens or when light refracts through it.

• Refraction of light: A simple experiment of dipping a straw into a glass of water shows children how light refracts through water. This can lead to the discovery of basic principles of optics.
• Wave formation: A stone thrown into a pond creates ripples that spread out in a circular fashion. This visual experience can help to sharpen the understanding of motion and energy transfer.
• Changes in physical state: The transformation of solid ice to liquid water and finally to vapor offers children the opportunity to observe the change between different states and to understand that substances can exist in different forms.

Listening: water offers a wealth of sounds that vary depending on the context.

• Drops: the regular dripping of water from a leaky tap or during a rain shower can give children a sense of rhythm.
• Flow: the sound of flowing water, whether in a river or from a tap, can have a calming effect while also sparking interest in the cause of the flow.
• Splashes: The joyful sound of water splashing or someone jumping into it not only creates joy but also curiosity about how and why these sounds are created.

In summary, water is an invaluable medium for sensory experiences in educational work with children. It not only offers direct learning experiences, but also stimulates the imagination and encourages experimentation. In the daycare center, the targeted inclusion of water in everyday life can help children develop a deeper understanding of the world around them and further develop their sensory abilities in a safe and supportive environment.

Water as a medium for motor development

Children’s motor development is a dynamic process influenced by a wide range of activities and experiences. In this respect, water offers an unparalleled range of opportunities to stimulate and develop both gross and fine motor skills.

Gross motor skills: Movement in and with water requires children to use different types of physical activity that have a decisive influence on their gross motor skills.

• Balancing: Children often balance on stones or tree trunks at a stream or lake. This trains their balance and coordination.
• Swimming: This is a comprehensive activity that uses almost all the muscles in the body. Swimming not only strengthens the arm and leg muscles, but also trains breathing and endurance.
• Jumping and splashing: Whether in puddles after a rainstorm or in a wading pool, jumping and splashing around promotes leg muscles and timing.
• Lifting and carrying: scooping water with buckets or building dams in a stream requires lifting and carrying loads, which strengthens arm muscles and the torso.

Fine motor skills: water activities can also help develop the finer movements of the hand and fingers.

• Shoveling and watering: filling small containers or scooping water with small tools trains hand-eye coordination and precision.
• Painting with water: Painting with a brush on the floor or on paper promotes fine motor skills and creative thinking.
• Fishing: Whether with a small net in a pond or with your hands in a water basin, catching small objects or creatures requires skill and patience.
• Experimenting with pipettes: picking up and dispensing liquids with pipettes or small syringes trains the hand muscles and fine motor skills.

In summary, water in daycare is not only a medium for sensory experiences, but also an effective tool for promoting motor development. The versatility of water activities ensures that children can develop different motor skills in a playful yet challenging environment. It allows children to safely explore their physical limits and improve their muscle strength and coordination while building confidence in their own abilities. It is therefore crucial that educators take advantage of these opportunities and regularly integrate water into their pedagogical work.

Water as a medium for cognitive development

Water is not only a physical medium through which children can develop their motor and sensory skills. It also serves as a tool to promote cognitive processes and an understanding of scientific principles. Children’s sense of wonder and innate curiosity can be stimulated in many ways through interaction with water.

Cause and effect:

• Wave formation: When a child throws a stone into a pond, they observe the resulting waves. They learn that an action (throwing the stone) causes a reaction (wave formation).
• Displacement and sinking: When objects are immersed in a container of water, children can observe how the water is displaced and can flow over the edge. They learn about Archimedes’ principle, even if they do not yet know the specific term.

Floating and sinking:

• Material investigation: By trying out different materials in water (wood, metal, plastic), children recognize that some objects float while others sink. They begin to hypothesize about the properties of an object that determine whether it floats or sinks.

Solubility and miscibility:

• Experimenting with different substances: When children add salt, sugar or sand to water, they can observe how these substances behave in water. This provides a simple introduction to chemistry and the idea of solubility.
• Oil and water: A classic experiment in which children see that oil and water do not mix promotes an understanding of density and polarity.

Changes of state:

• From ice to water to steam: By observing the melting process of ice or the evaporation of water, children learn about the transition from solid to liquid to gaseous states.

Sense of time and patience:

• Water clock: A simple water clock, in which water drips from one container to another, can help children develop a sense of time and patience.

Water as a medium for social-emotional development

Emotional and social skills are of central importance in a child’s development. They lay the foundation for interpersonal relationships, self-confidence and self-efficacy in a child. Interaction with water offers numerous opportunities to promote and strengthen these skills.

Sharing and cooperation:

• Shared water activities: While playing in small groups at the water, children learn to share toys such as buckets, watering cans or shovels. It takes coordination and teamwork to build a water channel or create a shared water game.
• Waiting for each other: At the water pump or while waiting for the bucket that is currently being used by another child, the little ones learn patience and understanding that others also have needs.

Empathy and recognition of feelings:

• Reaction to water: Not every child reacts the same way to the element of water. Some might be afraid, others might be euphoric. This offers children the opportunity to recognize and respond to the feelings of their peers.
• Comforting and offering help: If a child gets wet during the water game and feels uncomfortable, other children can learn to show empathy and offer comfort or help.

Self-efficacy and self-confidence:

• Achieving goals: When building dams or canals in the sandbox with water, children experience a sense of pride and self-efficacy when their construction is successful.
• Dealing with failure: Not every water game is an instant success. An overturned bucket or a non-functioning water channel can also cause frustration. Here, children learn to deal with failure and try again.

Communication and expression of feelings:

• Talking about experiences: After playing with water, teachers can encourage children to talk about their experiences. What did they enjoy? What was difficult? How did it make them feel?
• Physical expression: Through water play, especially those that integrate music and movement, children can learn to express their feelings and emotions physically.

Setting and accepting limits:

• Respecting privacy: Not every child wants to be splashed. Here, children learn to respect the boundaries of others and also to set their own limits.

Water and environmental education in daycare centers

Water, the elixir of life for our planet, is at the center of many pedagogical approaches when it comes to environmental education. The importance of this essential element goes far beyond its physical properties and offers countless opportunities to guide children on the path to an environmentally conscious and sustainable life.

• Importance of water for life:
  • Every child should understand that water is the basis of all life on Earth. From the smallest microorganism to the largest mammal, every organism depends on water.
  • Plants need it for photosynthesis, animals need it to drink, and humans use it not only to drink but also in many other aspects of their daily lives.
• Understanding the water cycle:
  • A basic understanding of the water cycle is essential. This includes the evaporation of water from oceans and lakes, the formation of clouds, precipitation in the form of rain or snow, and the return of the water to rivers and oceans.
  • Children can conduct experiments to better understand the cycle, for example, by evaporating water in a bowl and observing the condensation on the inside of a lid.
• Managing water resources:
  • It is important to educate children that although water is abundant on Earth, it is a scarce resource in many parts of the world.
  • Practices for conserving water, such as turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or collecting rainwater for the garden, can teach children how to save water in their daily lives.
• Pollution and its effects:
  • The pollution of water sources is an urgent global issue. Children should learn how human activities such as industry, agriculture and households contribute to water pollution.
  • Experiments that show how difficult it is to clean polluted water can help children understand the importance of clean water sources.
• Biodiversity in water ecosystems:
  • Waters, be they rivers, lakes or oceans, are home to a wide variety of life forms. An insight into this biodiversity can help children understand the complexity and beauty of these ecosystems.
  • Field trips to local waterways or aquariums can enable children to experience aquatic life up close.
• Traditions and stories around water:
  • Many cultures have stories and legends that address water and its power. Such stories can provide a cultural and historical perspective on water.
  • Discussions about these stories can encourage children to reflect on the importance of water in different cultures and times.
• The role of adults:
  • As with all educational topics, educators and parents have a crucial role to play. They can strengthen children’s environmental awareness through their own example and through targeted educational activities.
  • Exchanges with experts, such as biologists or environmentalists, can give children a deeper insight into the topics of water and the environment.

The connection between water and environmental education in daycare centers is a powerful tool for promoting awareness and appreciation of our natural environment. It not only provides a deeper understanding of the world we live in, but also imparts values such as respect, responsibility, and care for the planet.

By integrating water-related topics into the daily curriculum, children are given the opportunity to use their curiosity and sense of discovery to learn more about their environment. This lays the foundation for a generation that is better equipped to meet the environmental challenges of the future.

The importance of water in early childhood education

Water in daycare is much more than just an element – it is a means of learning and experiencing that awakens children’s curiosity and promotes their development in a variety of ways. Its simple yet fascinatingly complex character opens doors to a world of discovery for children. As they explore, feel, see and hear the cool wet, they not only develop their sensory perceptions, but also acquire a range of other skills.

A significant feature of working with water in kindergarten is the interdisciplinary approach. This approach combines various educational fields, covering a broad spectrum from natural sciences to art and social studies.

This gives children the opportunity to make connections between different areas of learning and transfer their insights into a wide range of contexts. Furthermore, water plays a significant role in strengthening emotional resilience. Take, for example, a child who is initially hesitant to dip their feet into a cold stream.

Once they overcome their fear and embrace the new experience, it strengthens their self-confidence and ability to deal with unexpected or even challenging situations. Similarly, experiencing a sudden downpour – though perhaps initially unpleasant – can teach children that it is okay to get wet sometimes and that the sun often comes out again afterwards. Furthermore, water serves as an excellent medium for teaching values. At a time when protecting our planet and using its resources sustainably are becoming increasingly important, children learn the value of this precious element at an early age by interacting with water. They learn why it is so important to appreciate water, not to waste it, and how it contributes to our ecosystem as a whole.

Water also opens doors to cultural and social perspectives. Through stories, songs and traditions from different cultures that touch on the topic of water, children broaden their horizons and develop tolerance and openness towards other ways of life and traditions.

Of course, all this does not come about by itself. The educators play a central role in this learning process. Through their professional and reflective support, by asking the right questions and offering targeted activities, they can deepen the children’s learning experiences and encourage them in their desire to discover.

In conclusion, integrating water experiences into the daily routine of the daycare center is invaluable. It is not only the immediate learning experiences that count, but also the long-term skills and values that children acquire in the process. It is an investment in the future of each individual child, and it is the responsibility of the educational professionals to take full advantage of this unique opportunity.

We can now derive educational offers for the children from the previous topics and areas of development of the children.

Educational water offers in daycare

Water games

Water play is a great tool for developing fine motor skills, balance, and teamwork. Activities such as the water run, where children transfer water from one container to another, or playing with water balloons, provide both fun and learning opportunities. In the process, children learn about the properties of water, improve their dexterity, and practice handling different shapes and weights.

• Water run:
  • Idea: Use differently shaped containers to increase the level of difficulty. This improves children’s dexterity and teaches them to handle different shapes and weights.
  • Tip: Place the containers at different distances and encourage children to use different methods to transport the water, e.g. with a sponge, pipette or cup.
  • Suggestion: Make it a competition with the team that spills the least water winning.
• Water balloons:
  • Idea: Organize a water balloon fight or a target throwing activity with water balloons.
  • Tip: Make sure that the balloons are not blown up too tightly to avoid injuries.
  • Suggestion: Introduce a sensory experience by using different temperatures of water – some balloons with cold water, others with warm water.

Experiments with water

Through experimentation, children can observe the behavior of water in different situations. This ranges from observing the interaction between water and oil to studying freezing and melting processes and understanding the principles of density and buoyancy in a “floating or sinking” experiment.

• Water and oil:
  • Idea: Add food coloring and watch how colorful drops form in the oil layer.
  • Tip: Use a transparent container so that the children can clearly see the separation.
  • Suggestion: Discuss with the children why oil and water do not mix and introduce the concept of density.
• Freezing and melting:
  • Idea: Freeze small toys or fruit in ice cubes and let the children “rescue” them.
  • Tip: Use different containers to get different ice shapes.
  • Suggestion: Do a time experiment to see how long it takes ice to melt at different temperatures.
• Floating or Sinking:
  • Idea: Have children predict which objects will float or sink before putting them in the water.
  • Tip: Use different materials such as wood, metal, plastic and fabric.
  • Suggestion: After the experiment, discuss with the children their observations and why they think some objects float while others sink.

Water in art

Water can serve as a medium for artistic expression. Through watercolor painting or finger painting, children can experience the fluidity of water and observe how colors mix and spread, stimulating their creativity.

• Watercolor painting:
  • Idea: Encourage children to paint pictures of nature with watercolors, such as a rainy day or a waterfall.
  • Tip: Use different sizes of paintbrushes to achieve different effects.
  • Suggestion: Let the children try out different techniques, such as painting on wet paper or using salt to create special textures.
• Finger painting with water:
  • Idea: Encourage children to use their fingers to tell stories or depict scenes on the paper.
  • Tip: Use paper in different colors to achieve different effects.
  • Suggestion: Discuss with the children how the water behaves on the paper and how it changes over time as it dries.

Music and water games

Water can be integrated into the world of music and movement. Activities such as water dance, where children dance to music and spray water, or creating sounds by filling water glasses in different ways, expand the multi-sensory experience.

• Water dance:
  • Idea: Play different genres of music and observe how the children move and dance while spraying the water.
  • Tip: Make sure that the floor does not become slippery, to avoid falls.
  • Suggestion: Use colored water or add glitter to make the spray more interesting.
• Musical instruments made of water:
  • Idea: Let the children compose their own melodies or recreate familiar songs by tapping on the glasses.
  • Tip: Use a wooden spoon to create a clear tone.
  • Suggestion: Experiment with different liquids such as syrup or oil to see how they affect the sound.

Experiences in nature with water

Water in nature offers countless opportunities for observation and interaction. Whether it is studying reflections in puddles or experiencing a rainy day, such experiences help children develop a deeper connection to nature and appreciate it more.

• Water levels:
  • Idea: Take mirrors outside and let the children compare reflective images in water and in the mirror.
  • Tip: Choose a windless day so that the water is calm and clear.
  • Suggestion: Discuss with the children about reflection and refraction of light in water.
• Rain:
  • Idea: Equip the children with rubber boots and raincoats and go on a “rain expedition”.
  • Tip: Collect rainwater in containers and observe how the amount changes during the course of the day.
  • Suggestion: Listen to the sounds of rain and encourage the children to imitate their own rain sounds with their hands or instruments.

Environmental awareness

Teaching children to appreciate the value of water and its finite nature is of vital importance. Discussions about wasting water and practical activities to save water can teach children to use this precious resource responsibly.

• Wasting water:
  • Idea: Conduct an experiment in which children observe how much water they use when washing their hands and compare it to the amount they actually need.
  • Tip: Discuss the places in the world where water is scarce and how life there differs from their own.
  • Suggestion: Start a project in which children find ways to save water in their daily lives.
• Water conservation:
  • Idea: Create a poster or brochure with water conservation tips that children can take home.
  • Tip: Show children how to fix a leaky faucet or how to collect rainwater to water plants.
  • Suggestion: Encourage children to develop their own ideas for conserving water and sharing them with the group.

Summary of the element water

In daycare centers, water plays a special role. It is not only a tool for physical exploration, but also a means of encouraging children to ask questions, make hypotheses and draw conclusions. In this sense, playing with water becomes a first step in science education, presenting phenomena such as buoyancy, reflection or the change of state from solid to liquid and vice versa in a context that is tangible for children.

In addition, water has a socio-cultural dimension in early childhood education. Playing and experimenting together promotes teamwork, sharing, waiting for one’s turn and negotiating rules, which is crucial for developing social skills. Furthermore, water makes it possible to incorporate cultural practices and traditions, as it plays a central role in many cultures, whether in stories, songs or rituals.

Another aspect that should be considered in the daycare context is the role of water in emotional development. Experiencing success and failure while playing with water – whether it’s building an embankment or trying to fill a container – can boost self-confidence and promote self-regulation skills. At the same time, children learn to deal with disappointment and increase their frustration tolerance.

For educators, water also provides an opportunity to talk about environmental protection and sustainability. This creates an awareness of the finite nature of resources and the need to protect our environment. It can also serve as a basis for further discussions on other ecological topics.

In conclusion, water in the daycare center is much more than just a toy. It is a powerful educational tool that, when used correctly, can promote learning in a variety of holistic ways. It enables children to understand the world around them, develop their creative and critical thinking skills, and see themselves as responsible and empathetic citizens.