An article on the Active for Life website explores why puddle play is so great for kids, positing that a puddle is a “magical portal”. Puddles provide children with opportunities to learn about movement, the natural world, and play.

The article by Josee Bergeron at https://activeforlife.com/say-yes-to-puddle-play/ encourages parents and caregivers to allow children to explore the joy of puddle play.

A puddle invites kids to learn how to move their bodies and is a perfect way to practice movement skills:

·      Puddles are meant to be splashed in by jumping: big jumps, little hops, run and jump, jumping stars (jacks), arms up or down, jumping with two feet, one-legged hops.

·      Puddles can also be kicked, stirred and tapped.

Some prompts to try:

·      What kind of jump makes the biggest splash?

·      Can you jump or kick all the water out of the puddle?

·      What happens to a puddle when it’s stirred? (Use a foot, hand or stick)

Make sure to dress appropriately for puddle play: rubber boots and pants in colder weather, or bare feet when the weather is warm.

Puddles are a science lab for kids: “a small pool of water in nature is an opportunity to learn about evaporation, density, and buoyancy”.

·      Collect a few natural items (e.g. pebble, leaf, pinecone, feather) and explore which of the items will sink and which will float? Why?

·      Outline a puddle on a sidewalk or driveway with chalk and come back in a few hours. Did the puddle shrink? Where did the water go? Did it get bigger? Why do you think that happened?

·      Measure the puddle using a measuring tape or ruler. How wide is it? How deep is it” How much water do you think is in this puddle?

·      Have your child look carefully at the puddle. What do they see? Do they see a reflection? Is there anything living in the puddle?

The article notes “there is value in allowing a child to play in a puddle without interruption. Play is a powerful form of learning because children must use their creativity and problem-solving skills without adult help. Often when we see our child’s frustration in play we want to swoop in, but try to wait a few moments before stepping.”

Items (“loose parts”) such as sticks, rocks, shells, cups, and sieve all invite the child to interact with a puddle in new ways.