Here you’ll find information and activities to help keep your little one entertained, as well as videos showing you how to build your baby’s water confidence outside of lessons. Keep checking back here for more content as we’ll be releasing loads each week!
Colouring
Oh no! Our fish fam have lost their colour. Let’s make them happy again – dig out your colouring pencils and felt-tips and help fill them in!
Wordsearch
Can you help Bubba find our Water Babies words? Download our Water Babies wordsearch!
3 Ways To Build Your Toddlers Confidence
Swimming builds confidence. And confidence is key. Because with confidence comes self-belief. And the more we believe in ourselves, the more others believe in us too – and this helps us succeed and build wonderful relationships. And with anything, the earlier confidence is nurtured, the better!
Our lessons are founded on giving your baby life confidence. But what happens when you can’t get in the pool? We’re here to help. Here are some ways you can carry nurturing their self-esteem, right from home!
Tiny tasks
It may seem like we’ve just put it in here so there’s an added benefit for you, but giving your little one tasks to do around the home can actually work wonders on their self-esteem. Contributing with a bit of dusting, tidying up their toys or sweeping the floor will make them feel important around the household and improve their sense of worth.
Give them your undivided attention
It might be hard now with everything that’s going on, but dedicating some focused time to your little one will really make them feel supported and able to tackle anything that comes their way. Give them lots of eye contact, accept their feelings and share yours too so they have the confidence to keep communicating.
Challenge them
Confidence can be gained by problem-solving. Why not give them a challenge and see what they come up with? Our very own Water Babies Will has created a boatload of videos, designed to get your little one’s creativity flourishing!
But really, the most important thing to do is just simply to give them opportunities to be independent, learn and make mistakes.
3 water play activities you can do at home!
I’m sure you know that if there’s an opportunity for your little one to splash water at you, they’ll do it! While it may be super endearing at first (and then quickly annoying), water play is actually really good for their development!
That’s because water is sensory, and the fluidity of this natural substance provides loads of opportunities for learning.
And do you know what else is great about it? You can play with it indoors as well as outside too! So without further ado, here are 3 water-based activities you can do from home.
Float or sink?
Water allows new discoveries! While on a walk with your little one, pick up objects like leaves, sticks and pine-cones. Or if you’re at home, choose some waterproof items from around the house (it might be better if you do the choosing here). Using a bath tub or paddling pool, get them to guess whether they think they’ll float or sink. Here’s your time to shine and revisit everything you learnt at school. Explain how the principles of density, buoyancy and displacement are all deciding factors. And if you need a little help, this article here explains it all perfectly!
Balloons in the bath!
If you don’t have a garden, don’t fret. You can have fun with water balloons in the bath! Fill up a load of colourful balloons with a bit of water and tie them in a knot. Your little one can have fun squishing them as they slip through their fingers, discovering new textures and processing information through their senses.
Scooping water station
Getting your little one to scoop up water in different containers is great for their development. Not only is it really entertaining (wish we were as easily captivated), but getting them to use big, medium and little containers helps them discover how varying amounts of water are held, teaching them about capacity. Also include a funnel in the mix, as little ones will find this really exciting when they see the vortex it makes!
Again, a paddling pool, bath or even a plastic box will do for this activity. And it’s also a life skill (yes really!). You’re preparing them for when they can pour their own glass of juice, or even make you a cup of tea. We thought you’d like that one.
With any water activity, make sure that you’re always present with your little one. It’s never safe to leave them unattended around water, even if the water is really shallow.
So there we have it. Three fun water play activities that not only heighten their senses and keep them entertained but help fine tune their motor skills too.
