“We must remember to build on the children’s own play, not direct operations from the outside”
Adapted from Sand & Water Play Activities
Pre-School Learning Alliance

Esther and William are currently obsessed with Octonauts

They love to watch the episodes, the creature reports, play with their Octonauts toys and read any books at all about sea creatures

Esther and William also adore water play

So I was not at all surprised yesterday

When they decided to combine the two

Using a wheelbarrow full of grass cuttings

They transformed our water table

First into a Kelp forest

And then into a pool full of algae

I sat and I watched

I observed their play

And it was wonderful

They played so well together

In a land of make believe

Filled with living things from the sea

Esther and William spent some time exploring the grass in the water

Enjoying the feel of it

Picking it up

Throwing it around

Piling it up

Pushing it beneath the water

They then started to play with their sea creatures

Making the animals talk to one another

Telling stories

Some of the creatures got poorly as the kelp changed to algae

Some of the animals built homes and nests

Some of the ocean dwellers were friends

Others hunters and gatherers

Their storytelling was a joy to behold

And their character voices hilarious

Esther and William played with this grassy water

For ages and ages

Engaged in their play and with each other

Extending each other’s adventures and play

It was not long before they decided to clear the kelp

They enjoyed covering themselves in the soggy grass

And roaming the garden as kelp monsters

It was not long after that

That they started throwing the mush

At each other and at me

Thankfully it was a warm and sunny day

And we were all in high spirits

What a wonderful way to play!

Water and grass cuttings

A sea full of seaweed

A forest of kelp

A pool piled with algae

So many ways to play

With such simple and natural things

And all from their own interests and imaginations

Magical

What childhood should be all about