What Is a Boat? Simple Explanation for a 3-year-old — Boats, Toys, and Safety

Hello! A boat is something that goes on water.

It can be very small, like a toy in your bathtub, or very big, like a ship that carries many people. Boats float on top of the water so they do not sink.

Boats can move in different ways:

• Someone rows with oars (they push the water).
• A sailboat uses wind in its big cloth (the sail) to move.
• Some boats make a loud vroom with an engine.

What boats can be like:

• Toy boat in the tub
• Little rowboat or canoe
• Sailboat with a white sail
• Big ferry or ship

Sounds and words you might hear: splash, whoosh, vroom.

Safety tip: when you ride a real boat, wear a life jacket. It keeps you safe like a floatie.

Try this play step-by-step:

1. Put a toy boat in the bathtub or a big bowl of water.
2. Blow gently or tap the water to make the boat move.
3. Say "boat" and wave to the boat. Bye-bye, land!

That is a boat — fun to play with and great to see on the water!