Play is the perfect way to teach hand-eye coordination and water sensory play is the perfect way for any summer day or at bath time.

Here is how I have taught hand-eye coordination with water sensory play in our home:

Different Shapes and Sizes Containers

I absolutely love Discovery Toys Measure Up Cups, Pots and spoons to teach the hand-eye coordination needed to pour from one container to another one. You can also use plastic cups or kitchen measuring cups to do the same thing.

Practice Pouring from Small Container to Big Container

All children love to feel accomplished and creating that when working on hand-eye coordination when using water sensory play is really important.  I always start with having them use a smaller container to pour into a bigger containing adding to the potential of success.  You can help by holding the bigger one, as they pour from the smaller one. Once their coordination improves they can practice on their own, by holding both of them.

Practice Pouring from Big Container to Small Container

Once success has been accomplished, move the child to using a bigger container to a smaller container. This is really important to learn because it emulates the skills necessary to pour milk into a cup. Most of us know that our children desire to do this way before their muscles are trained for this hand-eye coordination. Using water sensory play to build this skill takes the pressure out of doing it right from the beginning and allows a safe place for mistakes and spills.

You can aid them by holding the smaller container or have them practice having it lower, as many kids love to ‘do it themselves’. Consider saving plastic milk gallons or half gallon containers for this water sensory bin activity.

Before you know it, the hand-eye coordination for pouring will be built and strong for even a young preschooler.

Are you looking for other sensory bin ideas to build life-skills like these into your toddlers and preschoolers?

I’m thrilled to introduce to you a NEW ebook by Sharla Kostelyk, another co-host for the Tender Moments with Toddlers & Preschoolers.
Sensory Bins the What the How & the Why is a good resource to help a mom figure out what items work good in a base of a sensory bin, how to put together the base of the sensory bins together and why sensory play is so important to toddlers and preschoolers.

If you are ready to get started implementing sensory bins, this $2.99 ebook will be the perfect tool to get you started on the right path. 

Click here to view more details

If you are on Pinterest, you may be happy to learn about my NEW 101 Sensory Bins Pins that literally has 101 great sensory pins in it!  

Here are my top 10 favorite pins that I included in this board:

1. Arctic Ice Sensory Play
2. Insect Sensory Dig
3. Construction Site Sensory Bin
4. Calming Lavandar Water Bin
5. Sensory Play with Gelatin
6. Pond Sensory Bin
7. Soapy Water Play Outside
8. Sand Play with Spiders & Snakes
9. Moon Sensory Bin
10. Ocean Sensory Tray with Frozen Rice