Make your own ocean - a fun and easy water play activity for kids

Touching smooth stones. Feeling ridges on shells. Pouring water. Wondering why some shells float and some shells don’t. Wondering how fish and sea creatures move in water. Working out the best way to use a fishing rod or net. What an exciting play adventure!

These are some possible experiences your child might have if you make our underwater play idea. We have put together this very simple play idea that is so easy that your child could do it independently or at least be your very helpful assistant! To find out more, watch the video below:

Why make an under the sea scene? Your child might have a fascination for sea creatures. Perhaps your child has been to an aquarium recently. A story book or a video might have triggered the interest. Maybe you are thinking it’s time to introduce your child to something new and different. Perhaps you are passionate about conservation and you would like to introduce your child to the responsibilities of caring and protecting sea life.

Whatever the reason, our video shows each step to set up an under the sea scene to play with. We have put together two options for you to choose from. One is using a jar which could be a mini aquarium. The other option is a container which is more like under the sea.

Involve your child with collecting what you need. Find some stones and shells or use whatever you both can find that is suitable to make a layer at the bottom of your container. Find some sea creatures from your child’s toy collection or make some with bits and pieces like bottle tops and stones. Features can be drawn onto these using a vivid. Make pretend seaweed or fish food out of paper. Yes, it will dissolve but that’s a great messy play opportunity! Be creative and make a fishing rod or a fishing net out of bits and pieces and learn to catch the toy fish. Great for developing eye-hand coordination. Problem solve by finding out how to manipulate the rod or net to catch the fish. Let your child lead the play by choosing what to make and how to make it. Try to incorporate as many of your child’s ideas that you can to make your child the leader in this play.

Making an under the sea world is great for kids who don’t have any experiences relating to this. If you are lucky to have an aquarium nearby, it’s worth taking your child there. The experience of seeing a variety of underwater creatures up close is the best way to learn about them. If you have a beach or rock pools or a stream that you can go to, take time regularly to explore and learn together. Pet stores are another option. Most have aquariums with lots of different fish to look at. There is nothing like connecting with nature by having real close-up experiences such as these.

Our play idea is a great alternative option if real experiences are not possible. Our play idea could be a follow up to a real nature experience or a response to an ongoing interest. We have to admit that creating one’s own under the sea world to play with is really exciting AND it could be kept for a while. Give this play idea a go and get started with your child’s under the sea adventure!