Water play

One opportunity for play that the hot weather presents to children in this part of the world is water play.

Playing with water is not just fun but it has amazing benefits for children.

Water play is simply any play that allows children to do all their common outdoor movement activities of jumping, dancing, running etc by splashing, pouring, spraying, submerging etc in water using different tools such as sprinklers, buckets, containers, toys etc.

In some homes, water play is more exciting when bubble baths are created by filling a bathtub with water and adding sweet-smelling gels that form bubbles for enjoyment and relaxation. Bubble baths are soothing for both adults and children.

However, some specific children have a unique sensory appeal for water.

These are children living with autism.

The sensory experience of sight, touch, sound and taste is so comforting and stimulating that, their attraction for water must at all times be supervised. For such children, water can be both a huge source of joy and a hazard at the same time.

Benefits

Whilst many people commonly know that swimming is a healthy exercise for losing weight, water play itself has immense benefits.

The engagement of multiple senses brings so much sensory satisfaction to the body as these areas are explored. 

The irresistible energetic movements that are made with the limbs and trunk whilst enjoying a water fountain, a thrilling water slide or participating in water games help to develop motor skills (both fine and gross), balance and eye coordination.

Children are forced to make friends and interact with others whilst enjoying water play.

There is speech, language and communication development and emotional regulation as a result.

There is the opportunity to explore and experiment, bringing more understanding to scientific knowledge and mathematical concepts.

Football, water slides, floaters, toys and puddles are some of the materials that can be used for water play.

Children build creativity and imagination more as they think about how to make their experience more fun by incorporating these. 

Numeracy and literacy skills are all established during such play. No wonder children rarely get bored when introduced to water.

Children also build their capacity to focus during water play.

Their concentration span is impacted positively when they spend ample time exploring and playing in water.

They should be allowed to experiment with available play materials safely. Background music also helps to enhance the experience.

Safe, clean

A safe and clean environment should be maintained throughout the play.

Safety is a requirement when facilitating water play. Studies have revealed that children living with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers. 

This is why drowning is a leading cause of death among children with autism in areas where water is abundant.

They will wander away as soon as water attracts them.

They disappear swiftly from watching eyes in a split moment, and their sensory sensitivities are drawn in.

What makes it difficult to respond early enough when there is a potential drowning situation is the fact that children on the spectrum mostly have communication difficulties.

Therefore, there must be constant supervision of these children, especially around water when out and about.

It is a good thing to ensure that all children and their families are educated on water safety and how to prevent drowning. 

Fencing of private swimming pools at home should be a necessary consideration. Eyes should never be taken off children at risk of drowning.

Understanding the child’s body language, their triggers, hand flapping and stimming around water is necessary for providing the appropriate needed response or assistance.

Children need enough time and freedom to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity ‒ KR Jamison.

The writer is a Child Development Expert/ Fellow at Zero-to-three Academy, USA.

E-mail: nanaesi_19@yahoo.co.uk