Cheap Water Fun
By: Greta Schraer
I am sure as a nanny you have felt the responsibility to create new, fun, experiences that offer fun times for kids, while teaching them skills. About 12 years ago, I worked with a family of three children. We spent a lot of time outdoors at their house, but with a baby on a strict nap schedule the 8 year old, 12 year old, and I found ourselves creating games in and around the house. One day M, the 8 year old, asked to wash my car. I was kinda surprised at the request, but it was a nice day and I said, “yeah, let’s do it”. So we gathered a bucket, soap, sponges, the hose, and towels. The kids and I put our swimsuits on and had a blast making a mess getting my car clean. This began years of cleaning my car with many kids in different families.
Last summer on a day we were stuck at home, but wanted to be outside! I decided the boys, then 3, were ready to for the car wash fun! It turned out to be a very fun, successful way to teach skills, and allow them to follow directions.
Here are some points that I would make about our Cheap Water Fun:
- Give the event some planning, especially with younger kids
- Have steps to the event
- Use safe tools – for safety of your car and the kids
- Have enough tools for each child
- Manage the water to not be wasteful
- Teach by example
- Leave the hose until the end
The boys were so excited to be allowed to “play” with my car. We talked about how it was dirty and we can clean it with soap and water, just like we do our hands. I did bring the hose out only at the end, to wash all the suds and gave them each a turn. I waited because I didn’t want a soaked yard or the waste the families water. It worked pretty well, since they didn’t know any different. Since then, the often ask to wash my car, only 2nd to the real car wash, of course. 
On a hot summer day, a little water can go a long way! What other cheap fun have you created to cool off in the summer!? We would love to hear YOUR tips!
Special thanks to HTN and for sharing their backs in these pics!
For little ones, “painting” with water on the sidewalk is fun. Since the water darkens the pavement, they can enjoy making a design that disappears without mess when it dries. Buckets of water and big brushes and sponges are all you need. (Well, bathing suits!)
If the weather is warm and humid, blow bubbles and watch them stay where they land without popping for a long time. Build bubble palaces on wet grass after a rain!
Janice took my great water fun tip.
Another one is to fill up a bucket and then see how many rocks you can put in it before it overflows. It is wonderful to see cause and effect, along with counting.
Great ideas ladies. We also have done the paint brushes – very popular item to take to the pool
I’ll have to try the rocks!!