Water play isn’t just a great way to beat the summer heat. Water activities for toddlers provide endless entertainment and learning opportunities for our little ones. For kids under five, water play can support them to develop essential motor skills, sensory awareness, and a love for exploration and nature.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through my affiliate link. Please read our full disclosure for more information. All prices and availability are accurate at the time of publishing.
Don’t miss our roundup of the top 10 water activities that will provide hours of fun and learning for your toddler!
They might need a spare set of clothes…
1. Sensory Bin Play
We love the simplicity of this. And it’s a budget-friendly toddler activity, too! Fill a shallow container – like a washing up bowl – with water and add various items such as plastic toys, sponges, cups, and sieves.
Let your little one explore the different textures and floating capabilities of each toy. Find a surface that’s easily cleaned for this activity, or let them splash outside. It’s unlikely the water will stay in the bowl!
2. Backyard Water Table
Water tables like this budget-friendly one from Amazon are sure to keep your toddler entertained for hours. It’s got different compartments, so you could even fill one with sand. It also comes with 31 water toys, including a water wheel, bucket and sieve! They’ll have so much fun exploring the toys, experimenting with water and improving their motor skills.
3. Sprinkler Fun
On a warm day, set up a sprinkler in your backyard and let your child go crazy! We love this Melissa and Doug sprinkler. It’s super cute and suitable for ages 3+. It’s a great way to cool down on a hot day… and too much fun to leave to the kids. Your little ones will love playing with you in the water!
4. Baby Pool Play
A small inflatable or plastic baby pool provides endless opportunities for water play. We love this budget-friendly baby pool on Amazon. Simply fill it with shallow water (and never leave a baby or child alone in water, of course) and let your little one splish and splash their hearts out! And if you want to go fancier, we love this kiddie pool, complete with little slide, sprinklers and floats!
5. Water Painting
Give your toddler a paintbrush and a bucket of water, and let them “paint” on sidewalks, fences or even the outside of your house. They’ll love ‘making a mess’ and they can do it all over again when the water evaporates!
6. Water Obstacle Course
Set up a water-themed obstacle course in your backyard using different items like pool noodles, buckets, and sponges. Create challenges like crawling under a pool noodle archway, balancing on bucket stepping stones while carrying a container filled with water, and tossing water balloons into buckets. This super fun water obstacle course will help your toddler to develop gross motor skills and coordination, all whilst having fun. And you’ve got to have a turn too, of course!
7. Ice Cube Exploration
Freeze water or juice in ice cube trays and let your little one play with the ice cubes in a shallow container of water, like a washing up bowl. They’ll love watching them melt – especially if it’s a hot day – and you could even add juice cubes to a glass of water. They’ll watch in awe as it changes color in the heat!
8. Frozen Treasure Hunt
Sticking with the ice cube theme, freeze small toys or objects in ice cube trays or larger blocks of ice. Once frozen, hide the ice blocks around your yard or in a sensory bin filled with water. Give your little one tools like spoons, spray bottles filled with warm water, and toy hammers, and let them excavate the hidden treasures!
9. Hook a duck
All the fun of the fair! Grab a hook a duck game set like this one on Amazon. Your little one will love hooking the ducks – and it’s a great game to play with their toddler friends. You could even create ‘prizes’ for hooking the ducks – perhaps an ice pop if it’s a hot day!
10. Bubble Bonanza
Set up a bubble machine or use handheld bubble wands to create a bubble wonderland in your backyard. Your little one will love chasing after the bubbles and popping every last one!
Conclusion
These water activities for toddlers offer so many benefits, including physical development, imaginative play and, most importantly, having fun! They’re all easy to do in your own backyard and great for a warm summer day. Make sure you and your little one are using the right sun protection and all that’s left to do is get splashing!
Loved these ideas? 🌟 Help spread the joy and inspiration by sharing this article with other parents and nature enthusiasts on Pinterest! Your share could spark a world of adventure for little explorers everywhere. Happy pinning! 📌
