16mo–2.2y9 minSelf-careChore timeFamily time
Find Your Water: Little Hydration Station
An environment-led routine where you places water where your child can find it and practices the ‘get a drink when you need one’ sequence—supporting independence, communication, and steady cup drinking.
What you'll need
Essentials
- a child-safe water bottle or small cup
- water
- a low, stable place your child can reach (low shelf, small table, or tray on the floor)
Nice to have
- a towel or wipe for spills
- a small tray to define the ‘water spot’
- a simple picture label (a drawn water drop) to mark the water spot
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneBegins self-care independenceBody· 22mo–3y· stretch
- MilestoneRemembers where objects belong.Mind· 20mo–2.7y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneSupported routine participationMind· 8mo–20mo· core· Step 4
- MilestoneDrinks well without spillingBody· 22mo–3y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneHolds and drinks from a cupBody· 15mo–18mo· core
- MilestoneGestures wants or needsMind· 10mo–2.3y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneUses single meaningful wordsMind· 8mo–20mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneHelps with simple household tasksHeart· 18mo–3y· core· Step 4
What it practices
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Place water containers where children can find them easily and get a drink when they need one.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)