Water play/water gun type activity ideas?

[Dreamalittledream]

Yup - we use the gardening squirt bottles as well - kids love them and even my 12 month old can figure out how to make them go.

They also love sand pails with water and paint brushes to either paint each other if we are in bathing suits or otherwise they paint the fence or shed but it keeps their 'hands' cool as they keep dipping in the water.

I am another that avoids anything with the replication of a gun/weapon for play as I do not want to inadvertently send the message of support for violence in my program and for me there is a difference between a garden bottle and a water 'gun' and it amazes me how young children know the difference as well ... IME the two different tools while they both serve the same purpose elicit a totally different tones and levels of aggression that arise in the play from the words used to the intent of the play changing from just fun getting wet 'watering' each other to games taking on the words of 'I am killing you' and the water being 'blood' and so forth as that tone of violence increases with kids and what they know of guns and their role playing - and i have seen kids as young as 18 months know that anything gun shaped kills people

For me it is just not something I want to expose them too specially when you do not know all your clients 'views' of guns/weapons for play

Yes I borrowed your 'painting' idea last week...they LOVED it! And I too was hoping to avoid actual water guns. Will try the spray bottles! Another trip to the Dollar Store...Eeeek...I spend so much there!

[Inspired by Reggio]

...Another trip to the Dollar Store...Eeeek...I spend so much there!

Yup I call it the $50 store cause I rarely walk out of there with less!