When it comes to water play activities for toddlers and babies, it’s easy to fall back on tub time. What’s not to love about bubble parties, paint parties, and letting your little one play with their favorite bath toys in a totally contained environment? And while it might be an easy way to keep kids cool (and clean) on a hot summer day, it’s time to think outside the tub and leave the house to enjoy outdoor water activities for toddlers and babies. Whether your child is walking, scooting, crawling, cruising, or still working on tummy time, there are outdoor water play ideas in this guide for them to enjoy. Just remember, splashing (and parental supervision) are required.
1. Water Painting
Kids painting with no mess? Yes, please! Fill a tray with water, grab some brushes and sponges, and put your budding artist to work painting deck boards, rocks, driveway, or walls. Allison at No Time for Flash Cards suggests introducing different painting tools when attention starts to drift. Head over to her blog for more playtime tips.
2. Five Little Ducks Outdoor Water Play
Attention, mama ducks! By adding an aquatic element to the classic children’s story, even the littlest ducklings will love taking the rubber ducks in and out of the bucket or tub as you sing the song. It’s a great way to work on numbers, counting, and music. Set the scene with instructions from The Imagination Tree.
3. DIY Tricycle Wash
Upgrade from sprinklers by taking your little one through a PVC-pipe kiddie-sized car wash. Perfect for early walkers, they’ll love pushing their favorite “vehicle” through the water. Plus, you’re guaranteed some adorable photo ops. Visit Design Mom for a list of materials and assembly instructions.
4. Kiddie Pool Ball Pit
Your little one will have a ball splashing around in a kiddie pool filled with vibrantly colored plastic balls. Allison at Learn Play Imagine set up the pool for her 13-month-old twins, who loved—you guessed it—tossing the balls out onto the grass.
5. Water Scooping Station
Just water, a bucket, and colorful scooping tools can keep a baby or toddler busy for a good long while. Using measuring cups, they’ll practice how to pour, empty, and fill and will be captivated from start to finish. Get tips for play from Tinker Lab.
6. Water Tray Play
Does your baby like water? Do you have a high chair or a baby plate with a suctioned bottom? Then you have everything it takes to try this. Babies will splash, trickle, pour, and go wild with just a little bit of water. Add a blast of color using food coloring to keep things interesting. Find out more from The Imagination Tree.
7. A Simple Sprinkler
One of the easiest outdoor water play ideas is to turn on a sprinkler in the yard and set it on low. Any sprinkler head will do the job, but a kid-friendly one will add a little something extra to playtime.
8. Baby-Safe Water Beads
Water beads for babies and toddlers? Yes, provided you make these mini, edible water beads. Follow this tutorial from Asia at Fun At Home with Kids. With just basil seeds, food coloring, and water, you’ll be on your way.
9. Outdoor Water Play with Bubbles
A homemade bubble station is quite possibly one of the most fun water activities for toddlers. Round up measuring cups, plastic bowls, and dish soap, and even toss in a few plastic toys that need to be “washed,” and head for a space on the patio or on the lawn. Your toddler will love transferring sudsy water from one container to another and “cleaning” their toys.
10. Ice Cubs on a String
Are you familiar with soap on a rope? Make an ice cube version of it by placing a piece of yarn throughout your ice cube tray and freezing colored cubes of water. The coolest part? The ice cubes, being attached, won’t slip away from your baby. Get the details from Dukes & Duchesses.
11. Giant Frog Pond
Think aquarium sensory bin but on a much larger scale. Fun at Home with Kids has a great tutorial on how to make a frog pond for toddlers that’s perfect for splashing and playing.
