Colander Rain Shower
Colander Rain Shower is a calm fine motor activity for toddlers aged 15–24 months (corrected age). In the bath or at an outdoor basin, your child pours water into a colander and watches it rain out, practising tipping, grip and cause and effect. It takes 5–10 minutes, needs 2 minutes of prep and works indoors or outdoors.
Updated
Colander Rain Shower
In the bath or at an outdoor basin, your child pours water into a colander and watches it rain out, practising tipping, grip and cause and effect.
- Ages (corrected)
- 15–24 months
- Time
- 5–10 min
- Prep
- 2 min prep
- Where
- Indoors or out · Calm
You need
- a plastic colander
- 2 measuring cups
- bathwater or a shallow basin of water
Steps
- Hold the colander over the water and pour one cupful through it: "Rain!"
- Hand your child a measuring cup and wait while they scoop.
- Hold the colander still and let your child aim the pour; spills are fine.
- Respond to what happens: "Drip, drip" or "Full! Pour it!"
- Swap roles and let your child hold the colander while you pour.
Safety first
- Stay within arm's reach the whole time water is out, and never leave your child in the bath, even for a moment.
- Use only a few centimetres of water in a basin and empty it straight after play.
- Wipe up spills so no one slips.
No level picked yet. The 0–4 scale is a learning log, not a test.
Not yet: show it once, then let them explore
Watch for the first sign: scoops water and keeps the cup upright until the pour.
Not yet is information, not a verdict. Do it once yourself while they watch, pause, and offer it again in a few days.
Simplify one step
Next time: use one cup only and let your child simply dip and dump it.
Give the least help that works: wait first, then point or show, and guide hands only briefly.
Repeat the same version and fade your help
As you step back, watch for: tips the cup on purpose over the colander.
Pause a few seconds longer before you model, and swap showing it for a point or a gesture.
Offer it once more, then add one change
When it is easy again: lift the colander a little higher so the pour has to be aimed.
Change only that one thing and keep everything else the same.
Ready for one step up
Lift the colander a little higher so the pour has to be aimed. Or carry it somewhere new: water a plant outdoors with a cup.
Starting it on their own or using it in a new place is the strongest sign. Still change one thing at a time.
Stop and rest this one
In 2-3 days, come back with the simpler version: use one cup only and let your child simply dip and dump it.
End with something calming together. One hard moment never means a delay.
Stop on a good note
Keep this version and keep it short next time: 5 minutes is plenty.
They can do it, but it was not fun today. Add difficulty only once it feels easy and enjoyable again.
How to play Colander Rain Shower
5 steps, about 5–10 minutes of focus time, 2 minutes of prep.
-
Hold the colander over the water and pour one cupful through it: "Rain!"
-
Hand your child a measuring cup and wait while they scoop.
-
Hold the colander still and let your child aim the pour; spills are fine.
-
Respond to what happens: "Drip, drip" or "Full! Pour it!"
-
Swap roles and let your child hold the colander while you pour.
What you need for Colander Rain Shower
| What you need | A plastic colander, 2 measuring cups and bathwater or a shallow basin of water |
|---|---|
| Prep | 2 minutes of prep |
| Focus time | 5–10 minutes |
| Where | Indoors or outdoors |
| Energy | Calm: good after active play or before a nap |
| Ages (corrected) | 15–24 months |
| Domains | Fine motor, Cognitive |
| Fits the day | At bath time or in the calm hour before bed |
Easier and harder versions
Change one thing at a time. Drop to the easier version when Colander Rain Shower stalls; move one rung up only once it looks easy on a few different days.
-
Easier
Use one cup only and let your child simply dip and dump it.
-
As written
The 5 steps above, for 5–10 minutes.
-
Harder 1
Lift the colander a little higher so the pour has to be aimed.
-
Harder 2
Swap the big cup for a smaller measuring cup.
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Hardest
Ask your child to pour from one cup into the other before pouring into the colander.
What to watch for
The signs of progress in Colander Rain Shower, mapped to the 0–4 learning scale the family plan uses (a tracking aid, not an assessment).
| Level | What it looks like here |
|---|---|
| 2 · After a model | Does it right after you show it or point. Watch for: scoops water and keeps the cup upright until the pour. |
| 3 · Independent | Does it when offered, with no demonstration. Watch for: tips the cup on purpose over the colander and looks from the colander to you when the water rains out. |
| 4 · Spontaneous | Starts it unprompted or in a new place. Watch for: holds the colander with two hands. |
Try it somewhere new
Level 4 means the skill travels. Once Colander Rain Shower is easy, change the place, the person or the material:
- Water a plant outdoors with a cup.
- Try the rain game with a clean yogurt pot that has holes poked in the bottom.
Words to model
During Colander Rain Shower, say “pour”, “rain”, “full” and “empty” at the moment they happen, one at a time, then pause so your child can answer with a look, a gesture, a sign or a word.
Safety for Colander Rain Shower
- Stay within arm's reach the whole time water is out, and never leave your child in the bath, even for a moment.
- Use only a few centimetres of water in a basin and empty it straight after play.
- Wipe up spills so no one slips.
Why it works
Water play is a common toddler experience that needs an adult within immediate reach. AAP's toy report notes that household objects can serve play well when an adult joins in.
Evidence rating: Consensus: sensible practice in line with pediatric guidance. Cited: AAP clinical report: Selecting Appropriate Toys for Young Children in the Digital Era (Pediatrics, 2019) and AAP HealthyChildren.org: Toddler.
Skills and ages
Colander Rain Shower practises pouring and cause and effect and fits ages 15 to 24 months. Each month below opens more activities for that age.
Skills practised
Activities by month (15–24 months)
Milestone checklists nearby
Activities like Colander Rain Shower
Colander Rain Pour is the closest match: it also practises cause and effect and pouring and it uses the same colander, water basin and measuring cups. It suits 20–30 months, takes 8–15 minutes (a little longer than Colander Rain Shower) and needs 5 minutes of prep. For a younger child, Big Cup, Little Cup Bath Pour starts at 14 months; for an older child, Ice Tray Pour-and-Fill runs to 34 months.
Ranked by shared skills, materials and ages
Frequently asked questions
What age is Colander Rain Shower for?
Colander Rain Shower suits 15–24 months, using corrected age for a child born early. For a younger or hesitant child, start with the easier version: use one cup only and let your child simply dip and dump it.
How long does Colander Rain Shower take?
About 5–10 minutes of focused play over 5 steps, with 2 minutes of prep. Stop while it is still fun and repeat it on another day.
How do I make Colander Rain Shower harder?
Change one thing at a time. First: lift the colander a little higher so the pour has to be aimed. Then: swap the big cup for a smaller measuring cup. Hardest: ask your child to pour from one cup into the other before pouring into the colander.
How do I keep Colander Rain Shower safe?
Play it only with an adult within arm’s reach. Stay within arm's reach the whole time water is out, and never leave your child in the bath, even for a moment. Use only a few centimetres of water in a basin and empty it straight after play. Wipe up spills so no one slips.
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Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.