Experiment at bathtime. Let your child play freely with clean plastic beakers, toy plastic plates, sponges, empty plastic shampoo bottles and clean plastic food containers (e.g. margarine tubs with lid) as well as bath toys. After freeplay, encourage him/her to try floating some of the items. Then ask: What happens if the margarine tub is filled with water? Does it make a difference if the lid is on the shampoo bottle? Make collections of the things that float and don't float.

If your child has a toy boat, see how many toy people can be placed in it before it sinks. Count the figures as they are added one at a time. Try again, encouraging your child to place the people in the boat carefully. Is the result the same?

Say or sing the rhyme:
Row row row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream!
Try making rowing or rocking movements together in time to the rhyme. This helps to develop a sense of pulse, part of musical development.

Also let your child explore making his/her own "floating" music, using any sounds or instruments they like. Don't worry if their idea of floating music isn't the same as yours, but encourage them to play instruments with care and respect.

You can also do an activity sheet with your child.