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Water play is great for kids in the summer. It’s a way to cool off in the heat, keep them entertained, and is so good for them.
These are the best water play ideas for kids to do in the summer and throughout the year.
1. Sponge Water Balls
What you’ll need:
These sponge water balls are so cool and unique. Your kids can help you make them, then they will have a blast playing with them.
They can absorb water into them, then squeeze them out and throw them at the ground.
2. Dishwashing Sensory Bin
What you’ll need:
- Play set of dishes here
This dishwashing sensory bin is fun for kids and teaches them how to clean things. Set up a bin with water, a bin with soapy water, and give them some dish toys to play with and clean.
You don’t actually need to get the toys dirty for them to play and clean them.
3. Painting Ice Cubes
What you’ll need:
- Paint and paintbrushes here
Painting ice cubes is a fun way to stay cool on a really hot summer day. Give your kids a bin filled with ice cubes, paint, and paintbrushes.
They’ll likely need more ice cubes when those ones melt though.
4. Bubble Foam Sensory Bin
What you’ll need:
Bubble foam is so cool and a great sensory experience for toddlers and kids. You’ll mix water and dish soap with a hand mixer to achieve this.
You can add food coloring to make different colors of bubble soap or just go with it as is. Add some fun toys to the bin like shovels and pails.
5. Ocean Water Sensory Bin
What you’ll need:
This ocean water sensory bin is really cute and fun for kids who love sea animals. Setup some water in a bin and you can dye it blue if you want to.
Add sea animals, shells, scoopers, and more for your kids to play with.
6. Car Wash Station
What you’ll need:
This car wash station is so cute and fun for kids who love cars. Give your kid some cars to play with chocolate pudding, and a bin with soapy water and sponges.
They can get the cars dirty in the chocolate pudding, then clean them in the soapy water.
The chocolate pudding is nice because it’s taste safe, just make sure your kids know the soapy water is not also taste safe.
7. Washing Animals Station
What you’ll need:
- Jungle animals here
Washing anything in a sensory bin is always fun and beneficial for kids. This is a really easy setup with animal toys, a bin with soapy water, and a toothbrush to scrub them with.
8. Dandelion Water Table
This dandelion water table is easy and can be put together last minute. Use a water table or sensory bin and fill it with water.
Have your kids pick dandelions and add them to the water.
9. Frozen Pom Poms
What you’ll need:
This is a fun frozen activity to do on a hot summer day. Freeze pom poms in water in an ice tray. Then put them in a bowl for your kids to play with.
They can try to chisel the pom poms out or melt them on the hot ground.
10. Animals Frozen In Ice Activity
What you’ll need:
This water play idea is simple and really cute for kids and toddlers. Freeze sea animals in water in an ice cube tray.
Give them to your kids with some water and pipettes and a bowl of salt.
11. Lemon Water Play
What you’ll need:
- Tools here
Lemon water play is a really fun and taste safe sensory bin idea for babies, toddlers, and kids. Slice lemons and put them in water. Your kids can try to squeeze them, taste them, and scoop them.
12. Water Beads Sensory Bin
What you’ll need:
Water beads are always a really cool and fun way to play. You’ll need water beads, a bin of water, sea animals, and little tools like scoopers.
They can feel everything, scoop water beads, and have the animals swim in the water and water beads.
13. Water Painting
What you’ll need:
- Paintbrushes here
Water painting is very simple and easy. It also does not leave a mess. Give your kids a bowl or pitcher or water and paintbrushes.
They can paint cement outside with the water and it will dry with no mess.
14. Water Balloons
What you’ll need:
- Reusable water balloons here
Water balloons are always super fun and a big hit with kids. Get some reusable ones that are much easier to work with.
15. Play In The Sprinklers
Sprinklers are simple and fun for kids to play in and cool off in the summer. Turn the sprinklers on for the kids to run in.
16. Water Table
What you’ll need:
- Water table here
Water tables are fun and will keep kids entertained for a really long time. They can feel the water, put different things, in it, scoop it, etc.
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