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Explore · Wild and Tumble activity

Gutter rivers and dams

Pour, whoosh, stop! Send water racing down a slope, then build a dam to hold it back.

  • 25 min total
  • Messy fun
  • Ages 2–5*
  • Outdoors
  • Warm days
Let's do this

*Illustrative age guidance. Your child's development and circumstances matter more than a number.

A tiny plan for your day

Estimated time: 5 min to set up · 17 min to play · 3 min to tidy. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • A length of plastic guttering, or a long piece of cardboard tube cut in half
  • A bucket of water and a jug
  • Sand, mud, stones and sticks for dams

Let's begin

Five simple steps

That's the whole activity. Tick each step off as you go, and stop whenever you like.

  1. Rest one end of the gutter on a step or crate so it slopes down.

  2. Pour water in at the top. Whoosh!

  3. Try racing a leaf or a stick down it.

  4. Build a little dam with mud and stones. Does it hold the water back?

  5. Take it away and watch the water rush through.

All done!

That's every step. However it went, you made a little moment together.

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