Most parents will know that getting from A to B with a 4 year old on a rainy day can take extra time due to the excited and inevitable leaping and splashing. Often as adults we tell our children not to jump in puddles, as we are worried about them getting cold, getting their clothes wet or 'wasting' time. However, these wild, splashy moments are instinctual, natural and have strong links with a child's development.
Young children are driven by their natural instinct to explore and discover their world. This discovery is done using their senses and motor abilities. Puddles, especially muddy ones, offer a fantastic sensory opportunity for children to engage with and the perfect place to practice the gross motor skill of jumping...you will never see a 3 year old jump higher than when she is trying to create the biggest splash of the morning!
Puddles are nature's own gift that offer endless open-ended play opportunities for children to engage with at their own level and pace. From leaping about to make giant splashes; to sitting in the puddle just to see what it is like; to floating leaf boats on it, puddles are an all-inclusive plaything.
Ms Domine Brown
Early Years Coordinator