Week 3 — Splash & Play
A gentle water week for the babies — floating friends to find, soft sprinkles, and the joy of "I made a splash." Friday, they join the Water Carnival with their own calm splash spot. June 15–19.
This guide pairs with the Infant Footings Framework and the teacher overview — that's where the four footings and the "menu, not a clock" approach live. This is the menu for Splash & Play: a handful of gentle water moments you reach for whenever a baby is calm, awake, and curious. This week leans on the Working-Memory Seeds footing — the delight of "it's still there!" — to match the big kids' Working Memory week down the hall. Nothing here is a schedule. Offer a moment, follow the baby's lead, repeat the favorites.
Week Snapshot
This is a water week. These rules are not optional — read them before every water moment.
- Drowning: infants can drown in under an inch of water. Constant arm's-reach supervision, eyes on at all times, never unattended for any reason — not even at the Friday carnival.
- Water hygiene: warm (not hot) water; fresh, sanitized water per child; no shared standing water; empty bins immediately after.
- Choking: every floating toy must be too big to swallow and mouth-safe — babies will mouth everything. Check toys for small or loose parts before each use.
- Warmth & sun: keep moments short; dry and warm babies promptly; shade and sunscreen for any outdoor water.
- Licensing wins: everything here must match our California Community Care Licensing (Title 22) infant-care rules. Where anything differs, licensing wins — ask a lead if unsure.
This Week's Menu of Moments
Five gentle water moments, each tagged to the footing it pours. These aren't steps to complete — they're a menu. Reach for one whenever a baby hits a calm-alert window, offer it, and let them tell you how long to stay. Repeat the favorites all week; the repetition is the learning.
Seeds · home
This is the week's home moment. The big idea babies are building: the duck still exists even when I can't see it. Hide a floating toy and let the baby discover it's still there — pure object permanence, the seed of working memory.
Younger (0–8 mo)
Float a duck, then slowly cover it with a damp washcloth as they watch — lift it back: "There it is!"
Mobile (8–18 mo)
Hide the duck under an upturned cup in the water and invite the baby to lift the cup and find it.
Seeds
The same "still there!" delight, now with you. A face-based peekaboo at the water spot — you disappear behind a towel and return. Babies hold you in mind across the gap, and the joyful return is the reward.
Younger (0–8 mo)
Hold baby close; hide your face behind a small towel, then reappear with a warm "boo!"
Mobile (8–18 mo)
Let the baby control it — hand them the towel and let them make you disappear and return.
Effect
The "I did that!" moment, dialed up for a carnival week. Water answers instantly — a little pat makes a little splash, a big pat makes a big one. Let the baby be the author and repeat it on purpose.
Younger (0–8 mo)
Guide baby's hand to pat the surface and feel the splash respond to them.
Mobile (8–18 mo)
Offer a cup to fill and tip; narrate the link — "you poured, and it splashed!"
Impulse
The carnival's gentle sprinkler, scaled to a baby. Build a predictable little pause — "ready… ready…" — then a soft sprinkle of warm water over their hands or tummy, and the calm settle after. The held breath and the soothing-down are the footing for self-control.
Younger (0–8 mo)
Drip warm water slowly from a sponge over their hand after the pause; watch their face, then soothe.
Mobile (8–18 mo)
Let them anticipate and reach for the sprinkle; stretch the pause a little longer each time.
Connection
The quiet footing under all the others. Pour a slow stream of water or drift a floating toy across the bin, get face-to-face, follow the baby's gaze, and narrate softly. You're joining their attention — which is how attention grows longer.
Younger (0–8 mo)
At tummy time or upright, drift a floating toy slowly across their view so their eyes track it.
Mobile (8–18 mo)
Point to the pour and pause — see if they follow your point or reach toward where you looked.
How the Week Drifts Along
Not a schedule — just a gentle drift as babies grow familiar with the water. Every moment is fair game any day; this is only a soft suggestion. Keep following each baby's body clock first.
Gentle first exposure. Let babies discover the warm water and floating friends with no agenda — your job is warmth, narration, and being close.
Now the water is familiar, add the home moments — hide-and-find the duck, peekaboo — and the "ready… sprinkle!" pause. Repeat the early-week favorites too.
The babies join the camp's Water Carnival with their own calm splash spot — all the week's favorites, gently, in the happy buzz. Keep it familiar and soothing (see below).
The Infant Splash Spot
The big kids run a whole Water Carnival on Friday — and the babies are part of it, their own gentle way. Set up a calm infant splash spot a little apart from the busy stations: a shallow warm-water bin, floating ducks, and soft sponges. The goal is a settled, happy corner, not the thick of the noise.
Brightwheel This Week
A warm post for each phase of the week — share the footing behind the cuteness, gently, so families see the developmental value in the play.
Before the Week
A calm, ready room makes a gentle week. Set these over the weekend or Monday morning.
Supplies — Check & Request
Scan this against what's already in the room. Anything you're short on, send the checked list to Amy early — furniture & equipment especially, since those have the longest lead time. Items marked (parent) are family-supplied. Infant water play is simple, so the list is short — and everything in the water must be mouth-safe (too big to swallow) and used at arm's-reach supervision.
Furniture & Equipment · order early
- Low, shallow infant-safe water bins2–3
- Shade for the splash spotas needed
- Drying rack or clothesline1
- Non-slip mats2
- Lidded bin for wet gear1
Water & Moment Materials · all mouth-safe
- Floating ducks / toys (too big to swallow)handful
- Upturned cups (hide & find)6–8
- Soft washcloths (Find the Duck)several
- Small towels (peekaboo)4–6
- Soft sponges (sprinkles)few
- Soft fish puppet / plush (washable)1–2
Per-Child & Consumables
- Dry change of clothes (parent)1–2/child
- Towels2–3/child
- Sunscreen (check; if outdoor)1–2
- Sun hats (parent / spares)spares
- Gallon zip bags (wet clothes)1/child
- Paper towels2–3 rolls
Safety & Cleanup
- Toy & bin sanitizer1
- Choke-test tube (mouth-safe check)1
- First-aid kit (check / restock)1
- Trash bags1 box
- Hand soap refill1