• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Messy Motherhood

Messy Motherhood

messymotherhood.com

  • Free Challenge
  • Coaching
  • Articles
    • Anger Management
    • Family & Motherhood
    • Parenting
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Colored Water Play

So this is one of those activities where I wasn’t really sure how J would play with it.   I set it up and just watched to see what he would do.

It turned out to be quite fun…and we both got pretty wet!

Colored water play
All I did was fill up some empty bottles (soda bottles, and creamer bottles) with water and a few drops of food coloring.  I made 6 different colors for him to mix and play with.
I placed them next to a bunch of containers so he could have a place to mix.  I later added a spoon, whisk, and a cup with a spout. 

IMG_3665

Like I said, I didn’t have an agenda and really I had no idea what  he would do with them. I just set it up and let him go.

And go he did!
2012-04-31 Jackson 23 Months

He opened, poured, and mixed all the colors.  And ended up with some interesting colors.  Let’s just call them “preschool brown”.  (If you’re a preschool teacher, than you totally know what color I’m talking about!).  Not quite the pretty colors I was hoping for…oh well.

IMG_3733

J continued to mix, pour, and fill containers with water. I even turned on the tap outside so he could fill up containers with water…over, and over, and over again!

IMG_3752

Somehow the play turned into this!

IMG_3741

He ended up stripped down to his diaper and completely soaked.  This boy loves water play!

IMG_3747I actually got a pic of him getting splashed with water!  Ha!  Love it!

It’s amazing how a simple little activity can turn into such a big mess!  But, it was a fun mess!
Things that were learned and practiced today:

  • He practiced large motor skills through all the lifting and pouring of water and carrying water in very full containers.
  • He practiced fine motor skills by unscrewing and lifting the lids on and off bottles.
  • He learned a lot about science through the mixing of colors, and all about what happens when we splash, pour, mix, throw water.
  • He practiced his color identification.
  • He heard and practiced saying lots of words like wet, water, pour, mix, throw, cold, etc.

J is 23 months old, but this game is perfect for any aged child.  Who wouldn’t love mixing colors…and getting soaked in the process?

Like what you see?  Come on over to my Facebook and Twitter pages, to see even more fun things.  Follow along and join in on the conversation!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Pinterest

by Amanda Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Play Tagged With: Invitations to Play, Large Motor Play, messy play, Preschool, sensory tray, Toddler, Water Play

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. PlainVanillaMom

    April 16, 2012 at 4:44 pm

    This is so AWESOME! Luv Luv Luv it! You got some great pix too girlie 😉 Nice job!

    Reply
    • Amanda

      April 16, 2012 at 7:01 pm

      You’re sweet! The compliment about the pictures means so much coming from you. I’m still very much a novice photographer!

      Reply
  2. Anonymous

    April 16, 2012 at 6:34 pm

    Love this idea! (And obviously, your son did too.) 🙂 How did the food coloring do on the patio? Is it so watered down that it’s not a problem with staining?

    Reply
    • Amanda

      April 16, 2012 at 6:59 pm

      He did love it! The food coloring was so watered down that it did not stain the patio or our skin. I only used about 3 drops in each bottle.

      Reply
  3. The Monko

    April 16, 2012 at 6:57 pm

    this is brilliant – and very familiar, Goblin always ends up stripped down to his nappy splashing around like crazy if we do anything water based.

    Reply
    • Amanda

      April 16, 2012 at 7:00 pm

      It’s pretty much guarenteed that we are both going to get soaked anytime he plays with water. I’m always prepared with lots of towels on hand. There is just something about kids and water!

      Reply
  4. Growing a Jeweled Rose

    April 16, 2012 at 7:15 pm

    Super fun and simple activity! I love it!

    Reply
  5. Rebekah

    April 16, 2012 at 8:00 pm

    Super fun!! A perfect toddler/preschool activity!!

    Reply
  6. Having Fun

    April 17, 2012 at 5:12 pm

    Oh how fun! Your activities always turn out so well. K looked like he was totally into it. I need to start saving bottles to try this with my kiddos.

    Reply
    • Amanda

      April 22, 2012 at 12:03 am

      I wouldn’t say they always do! But this one went really well.

      Reply
  7. Having Fun

    April 17, 2012 at 5:12 pm

    I forgot to add.. I love the splash picture. That is great.

    Reply
  8. Jaime Williams

    April 20, 2012 at 1:35 pm

    My boys will love this. thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  9. Jenni Fischer

    April 20, 2012 at 3:43 pm

    I love how you connected what he learned through this fun activity.

    Reply
  10. Crafting Play

    April 20, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    I love when projects explode into something else. That kid interpretation is exactly what inspires me!

    Reply
    • Amanda

      April 22, 2012 at 12:04 am

      Me too! Children’s play is absolutly facinating to me…I love watching to see what they’ll come up with next!

      Reply
  11. Nathaly

    April 27, 2012 at 10:46 am

    Jaime bien l’idée good idées!

    Reply
  12. Jaime Williams

    May 3, 2012 at 10:20 pm

    we did a water play party today and I am giving a link on my blog back to you for the great idea of adding color to the kids water. Thanks again for sharing:-)

    Reply
  13. JDaniel4's Mom

    July 19, 2012 at 12:30 pm

    This looks like a really fun way to explore color! It looks like he had a blast.

    I would love for you to link up to my Outside Play: Water link up. http://www.jdaniel4smom.com/2012/07/outside-play-water-old-macdonalds-beach.html

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Footer

Copyright © 2023 Messy Motherhood • Terms and Conditions • Privacy Policy

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter