Our water table was probably the best purchase I ever made. My kids beg to play with it almost every day during the summers. But since setting up and cleaning up the water table is a bit of work, we like to find water table activities that will last!
This post is all about water table ideas that are inexpensive (or free), easy to set up, and will entertain them for hours!
This post contains affiliate links.
How to find the best toddler water table?
When looking for the right water table for your kids, there are a few things you’ll want to consider.
- What accessories come with it?
- How many kids/what ages will be playing with it?
- How much space do you have for storage?
- How easy is it to empty and clean?
With these questions in mind, I want to show you the Little Tikes Easy Store Water Table. We have spent hours upon hours playing with ours and it checks all the boxes.
It has built in funnels and scoops that pop into the table for storage so you don’t have to find an additional spot for storage. It also has a bonus rain tray up top as well. It has two different heights, which is perfect for my younger and older ones.
But, best of all, it’s got easy drain plugs on both sides of the table and can be folded flat in under a minute. It takes up so little space to store which is insanely important to me as a mom living in a small apartment.
Water Table Hack!!
This water dispenser for a five gallon water jug is the perfect water table pump! This is especially fun if you have a rain tray on the top of your table!
Water Table Ideas
1. Building Site
If you have any Duplos or Megablocks laying around, you can easily make a water building site. The only prep you have to do for this one is dump them in. This is also a blast in the pool, splash pad, and bath tub too!
2. Pool Party
Cut up pool noodles are super cheap and happen to look just like a pool inner tube. So, grab any dolls, figurines, or toy animals you have laying around for a quick and easy pool party in your water table.
3. Sponge Balls
Sponge balls are super easy to make with a couple sponges, scissors, and rubber bands. They are a fun water table addition and also make for a super fun “water balloon” fight afterwards. (But without the clean up of all the balloons!)
4. A Car Wash
We recently did a car wash inside with my toddler’s monster trucks and some soapy water and I couldn’t believe HOW LONG he wanted to play with it all! Putting it all in a water table is even better! All the splashing and fun without having to clean up your floors.
5. Play Sink or Float
Fill up your water table and then help your toddler collect toys and things from around the house. Let them guess what will sink and what will float and then drop things in one by one. Simple but so fun!
6. Create Your Own Arctic
The next time you have a super crazy hot day, create your own arctic water table. With some ice cubes and these adorable arctic animals, you’ll have a perfect activity to cool everyone off.
7. Reusable Water Balloons
Since these reusable water balloons look exactly like large water beads, they are the perfect addition to your next water table play date!
8. Make Alphabet Soup
If you also have a ton of magnet letters cluttering your fridge, throw them all in a bowl and grab a ladle. Toss them all in the water table for a fun alphabet soup activity. Bring out some bowls and spoons and your toddler will be “cooking” up alphabet soup for hours.
9. Create a Duck Pond
All you really need for this one is a few cute rubber ducks. These numbered ducks come with the added bonus of extra number practice. Then just add in any rocks, grass clippings, flowers, etc. you can find around the yard.
10. Add in Some Hot Wheels Tracks
We randomly decided to create Hot Wheels tracks through and down from our water table last year and my toddler ended up playing with it for HOURS. It will definitely be a go to water table activity for us this summer!
11. Flowers & Pots
Collect the dandelions all through your yard (we all have them) and throw a few plastic flower pots into your water table. Let your kiddos use spoons, tongs, or just their hands to plant the dandelions in the pots.
12. Underwater Excavation Site
We own every type of construction vehicle toy out there and my kids absolutely love playing with them in the sand box. So, what better way to clean them off than create an underwater excavation site. All you need is rocks and any construction vehicles you have at home.
13. Make a Wish
As long as you know your toddler well enough to know that they won’t put coins in their mouth, this might be the easiest activity set up ever. Just throw your old spare change into their water table for a super simple diy wishing well. Grab a magnet wand to make it extra fun!
14. Water Table Aquarium
With a bag of aquarium rocks and these robo fish, you’ll have an aquarium that requires no maintenance. Plus, they can put their hands into this aquarium.
15. Water Cooking
Our play kitchen might just be my kids’ all time favorite toy. So, needless to say, we had to find a way to “cook” outside. With a few small pots and pans, ladles, and pieces of play food in your water table you’ll have your kids water cooking in no time. (and they just might never stop) But if your play food can’t get wet, just use ice instead!
This post was all about our favorite toddler water table and water table ideas that are inexpensive, easy, and oh so fun! I hope these water table activities give you and your kiddos hours of fun this summer!
– Beautifully Busy Mom
Other Posts You'll Love
Meet the Author
This post was written by Monica, a former teacher turned stay at home mom. After feeling very lonely at the beginning of her motherhood journey, she started this blog in hopes that other moms wouldn’t feel the way she felt. So, this blog is filled with free resources and fun activities so that you can enjoy the beautiful chaos that is motherhood. Let’s be friends 🙂
