Fountains and the Beauty of Water

By Anna Hamman

As an early childhood teacher and a mum, I am always amazed at how water can be one of the most entertaining and educational experiences for children of all ages. From little hands running through cool or warm water, to tipping water from one container to another repeatedly, to jumping in a whole swimming pool of water, water has a quality that both calms and excites children.

Now that it is warmer in Boston, there are many water activities that one can do at home with small children using few resources.

Recently my 13-month-old and some of her buddies have been discovering the joy of fountains. On a hot day, I pack an extra set of clothes, sun-cream and a towel and walk to a water fountain in a park to play. For my daughter, sometimes watching and listening to the water and observing other children playing in it is as much part of the learning experience as actually getting wet. This is all part of the process of learning about the world around you as a toddler.

Here are three great child friendly fountains we have enjoyed in Boston that you might like to visit on a hot day. Some of them have rubber underneath to prevent slipping and all are pretty safe in that they are built to have the water drain away immediately. On a hot day, I have seen older kids play in them for hours.

•Dana Park (Cambridge)

•Park on the corner of Hingham St and Memorial Drive (Cambridge) 

•Park on the corner of Milk Street and Atlantic Avenue (Boston)