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45 Awesome Water Activities for Kids

Water play ideas are a must for the summer. Water is incredibly versatile, fun, and it doesn’t need any time to prepare. Here are 45 of my favorite Water Activities for Kids.

If you want to make your Summer themed lessons a breeze, then check out the Summer Activity Pack. It’s filled with math and literacy centers, fine motor activities and arts and crafts templates. All of which are aligned with preschool learning standards. Check it out today.

Summer is here and the hot days that are perfect for water activities for kids. Cool down with these 45 fun and easy water play ideas.

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Water Activities for Kids

1. DIY Splash Pad

This DIY splash pad is cheap and easy to make. Your kids will love playing in the water this summer with this simple DIY project.

I’m going to start off this list with what I believe to be the best activities related to water. Learn how to make a splash pad in 30 minutes. This DIY project is a great way to cool off on hot summer days. Best of all, once it’s made it only takes 5 minutes to set up and pack away.

2. How to Make A Water Wall

Learn how to make a DIY water wall for your kids to play with. This is an easy DIY project that kids can play with in summer or winter.

Photo: Learn with Play at Home

3. Walking Water Experiment

Learn how to make a walking water science experiment - a fun rainbow themed STEM activity for kids. Perfect for preschool or kindergarten.

This is one of my favorite water STEM activities for kids, because it’s a great way to see capillary action in motion. Believe it or not, you can watch water mix colors all by itself.
With this walking water science activity you start off with the primary colors, and using a bit of science, you end up with a whole rainbow. It’s so easy and fascinating to watch.

4. Ice Sensory Bin

Tub filled with ice.

Playing with ice is a must on a hot summers day. This ice sensory bin is a great way to show children how water behaves at different temperatures, as well as a fun way to cool down.

5. Ocean Pollution Small World and Sensory Bin

This polluted ocean small world idea really struck a chord with me since I love the Coles Mini Shop Collectibles. This water activity for kids is a fantastic way to teach children about the effects pollution has on the environment and why we should be recycling.

Photo: Finding Myself Young

6. Water Cycle STEM for Kids

Learn how to set up an indoor water cycle demonstration. This is a simple science activity for kids that will teach them about evaporation, condensation and precipitation.

This activity is a small version of the water cycle that your kids will be able to see.

However, what I love the most about this demonstration is that it makes saltwater drinkable. Add some salt to the cup of water and see what it tastes like before and after the experiment is done. Your kids will be able to taste the difference.

7. Life Skills

Just because an activity is a chore for us, doesn’t mean that it’s not a play opportunity for your kids. Learning to wash the dishes, plastic dishes for kids, not glass, is an important skill that helps teach our kids to be independent in a fun way.

Photo: The Preschool Toolbox Blog

8. Ice Transfer: Fine Motor Activity

This is a great way to cool down in summer, and it’s so easy to just grab some ice cubes out of the freezer. Tongs, spoons, hands. Use whatever you like to take the ice from one bowl and into another. It sounds so simple, but my kids played with it for a ridiculously long time.

9. Ocean Small World and Sensory Bin

Ocean small world and sensory bin for kids. This is a fun summer themed activity or toddlers and preschoolers.

Ccreate your own ocean small world and sensory bin out of water, sand and small fish toys. I also threw in some fake plants for aquariums, but it isn’t necessary. Mainly my kids just wanted to splash about.

10. Sight Word Splash

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean the learning has to end. Using water activities for kids, like this sight word splash game is a fantastic way to keep your kids learning while they’re still having fun outside.

Photo: Homeschool Preschool

11. Rain In A Jar Science Activity

Rain in a jar is a fun science activity for toddlers and preschoolers. Start your day with some weather science for kids.

My son and I have made rain in a jar several times and he loves it. We use only blue because then it looks like rain falling down from the clouds and I get to talk to him about the weather.
However, I’ve also seen others who have had great ideas, like using several colors and trying to create a rainbow instead.

12. Water Balloon Pinata

I can’t think of a more perfect activity for my son than a water balloon pinata. Water balloons and hitting something. Fun ideas like this are right up his alley. I can already imagine the squeals of delight when I bring this activity out this summer.

Photo: Red Ted Art

13. 10 Rain Painting Art Activities for Kids

Rain painting activities for kids. 10 ways to paint with rain with your toddlers and preschoolers. The perfect rainy day activity.

Here are 10 different ways you can create art using rain. However, if it’s a hot sunny day you can always use spray bottles instead.

14. DIY Math Fishing Game

learn how to make a DIY math fishing game for kids. This is a great way for toddlers and preschoolers to learn STEM and fine motor skills this summer.

Learn counting and number recognition with this easy DIY math fishing game. Catch the correct fish as it floats on the water in this eas math game for preschoolers.

15. Catch the Ice Cube

Fine motor activity for babies. Let them cool down on a summer day with this slippery ice chasing activity.

This activity is a fun fine motor activity for all the adorable babies out there. Watching my kids try to pick up a slippery ice cube was so much fun.

To extend the activity I put food coloring in the ice cubes so that my kids could mix the colors once it melted. But that wasn’t nearly as much fun for them as catching and tasting the cubes.

16. Fishing for Hearts

Fishing for hearts is an easy valentines fine motor activitiy for toddlers and preschoolers. Celebrate the love with this fun play idea.

Place some foam hearts, squares and other shapes in a large tub or a kiddie pool, then see how many your kids can fish out of the water. Fishing shapes out of the water is a great way to learn a bit of math this summer.

17. Water Fine Motor Activity

I love fun water activities, and this one is so wonderfully simple that you almost can’t believe how much it helps your kids learn while they play. Squeezing water from one container to the other is all you need to do. You can use pipettes, sponges or anything else you have in your kitchen drawer.

Photo: Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds

18. Color Changing Flower Experiment

Use this color changing flower experiment to turn a rose blue. Learn how capillary action works with this simple science activity that is perfect for Spring

With a few household items you can create a blue rose. Or turn a flower any color you like. This experiment explores how flowers use capillary action to get water.
Since the color-changing doesn’t happen straight away, it’s also the perfect way to teach your kids about patience.

19. Ice Cream Sensory Bag

Ice cream sensory bag for kids. A fun summer themed sensory activity for toddlers and preschoolers. Great for developing fine motor skills.

Use water, straws and this free printable ice cream sensory bag template to make your own fun cream sensory bag. This is a fun way to play with water that’s completely mess-free.

20.Outdoor Water Games

Here is a whole list of outdoor water activities for kids that you can play with the whole family. Using just a few simple items you can create hours of fun with these ideas.

Photo: Play Party Plan

21. Flower Soup Sensory Bin

Flower soup is one of the easiest water activities for children. Pick some flowers and add them to water. It’s hard to believe that something so simple will be so engaging, but it’s true. The kids love this sensory bin whenever I bring it out, they just can’t get enough of this nature play idea.

22. Surface Tension Science Activity

This simple science experiment explores the wonders of surface tension. This is a fantastic water activity for kids.

Photo: What Do We Do All Day

23. Bear Soup

This super simple bear soup sensory bin comes with a lot of opportunities for younger kids to engage in extended play. Color matching, counting, patterning. It all depends on what your kids feel like doing that day.

Photo: Days With Grey

24. Frozen Paint

Frozen paint is a fun process art and summer activity for kids. Fantastic play idea for toddlers and preschoolers.

The Frozen Paint has been a huge hit with both the kids and myself. They love the sensory side of this process art activity. I, on the other hand, love how I can make a whole batch of it and keep it in the freezer. It’s great being able to pull a few out whenever I need quick fun activities.

25. DIY Sponge Bombs

Learn how to make water sponge bombs for kids. This is a fun summer DIY project to help children to cool down and burn energy.

DIY Sponge Bombs are a great alternative to plastic water balloons. You can still have all the fun of water fights, without needing to clean up all the little plastic bits that are left over from the end.

You’ll still have fun, and your garden will be happier too.

26. Animal Washing Station

Washing toy animals is such a fun pretend play activity but it’s also a great way to promote independent life skills. Washing the dishes, or themselves, can all start with these fun water activities for kids.

Photo: Bilingual Beginnings

27.Frozen Sand Sensory Bin

Need some summer activities for kids? You have to try this frozen sand sensory bin. It's a fun and easy summer sensory activity that with help your toddlers and preschoolers cool down on a hot day. Make space in your freezer because this sensory bin is worth it.

I came across this sensory bin by accident. But I’m so glad that I did because it’s now one of my favorite water play ideas. If you’ve got any extra space in your freezer, then you have to try frozen sand the next time there’s a hot day.

28. Make Way for Ducklings: ABC Activity

This fun activity is an accompaniment to the book Make Way for Ducklings. I can’t think of a better way to get your kids excited about learning to read than by a fun letter recognition activity based on a classic.

Photo: Growing Book by Book

29. Water Obstacle Course

Make a water obstacle course in your backyard and let the kids run wild. From pool noodle sprinklers, jumping through hula hoops to a water bucket race. You can make any number of water based challenges for your kids.

Photo: Hands On As We Grow

30. Summer Lemon Sensory Bin

When it comes to water activities for kids, it doesn’t get much simpler than this. This sensory bin consists of sliced lemon, water, and blue food coloring. The kids played with it for 45 minutes straight. Scooping the lemons, splashing and having a blast.

31. Gross Motor Water Transfer

With a couple of tubs of water and a cup, you can get your kids to play this energy-burning water transfer game. There’s a lot of splashing and a lot of fun to be had with simple water day activities.

Photo: Simple Fun for Kids

32. Eyeball Soup

Tub filled with green water and toy eyeballs and spiders.

Eyeball soup is a fun and easy sensory bin for Halloween. Kids will love making their own spooky potions with this sensory tub.

33. Tropical Island Small World

What is one of your favorite summer activities for kids? I love going to the beach, for me there’s no better way to cool down. However, it’s not always possible to head to the ocean. With a bit of sand and water, you can pretend to have a tropical getaway in your own backyard.

34. DIY Kiddie Car Wash

DIY water activities for toddlers can be so much fun to make if you’re happy to use a few simple tools. This kiddie car wash is simple, and is bound to be the next summer favorite of your family.

Photo: Mom Endeavors

35. Invitation to play with colored water and recycling

I love how just changing the color of the water can take an activity from fun to epic. Not only is this a great way to develop fine motor skills, but your kids will also learn a bit of color mixing too.

Photo: Learn with Play at Home

36. Iceberg Sensory Bin

This Iceberg Sensory Bin for Winter is a fun, easy, taste safe sensory activity for kids. Perfect for babies, toddlers and preschoolers to play with this winter.

This is one of my favorite water play ideas that you can do during the colder winter months. The icebergs in this sensory bin are completely taste safe, making it suitable for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. 

37. Washing Dishes Sensory Bin

Here’s another opportunity to teach your child some valuable life skills. All while they play too. This washing dishes sensory activity is a great alternative for parents who don’t want to spend the money required for a kitchen learning tower.

Photo: Toots Mom Is Tired

38. Pool Scrabble

If you are fortunate enough to have a swimming pool in your backyard, then try making a set of pool scrabble. This is a great way for kids to practice their ABC’s while they burn off some energy.

Photo: Toddler Approved

39. Water transfer with Pipettes

Using these disposable pipettes for transferring water is a great option for the classroom. Can your kids fill up the entire container? Or count each squeeze as they go? There are a surprising number of fun things you can do with pipettes.

Photo: Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds

40. Water Color Guess Game

I love how Learn with Play at Home found a way to make water activities for kids into a guessing game. It’s a lot more fun when you don’t know what color you’re going to get.

Photo: Learn with Play at Home

41. Sink or Float

This is such a simple experiment that you can do it with very little prep at all. You just need to grab anything you want around the house and see what floats and what sinks.

This experiment is a fantastic example of water activities for elementary students.

Photo: Edventures with Kids

42. Disney Ice Escape

I love the Disney twist on this classic Ice activity. It’s a great way to play if your kids have a favorite movie at the moment.

43. Painting with Water

Grab a bucket of water and some paint brushes, because you are going to love painting with water. This is a great way to spend time outside and let the kids play.

Photo: Happy Hooligans

44. Water Balloon Spoon Race

The egg and spoon race is a classic kids game. Have you heard of a water balloon and spoon race? This is just as fun and perfect for those hot summer days.

Photo: Red Ted Art

45. Snowstorm in A Jar

Learn how to make a Snowstorm in a Jar, one of the best science activities for kids. Perfect for winter or weather preschool curriculums.

Use water and oil to make your own snowstorm in a jar. This is a fun science activity that kids will love all year round, not just durin winter.


Summer Activity pack for preschool and kindergarten. Printable Summer themed literacy, math, fine motor, games and art templates.

Summer Activity Pack

Get over 80+ pages of Summer themed play based learning activities and craft templates. Perfect for preschool and kindergarten.


Are you going to try any of these Water activities for kids?
Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.

Summer is here and the hot days that are perfect for water activities for kids. Cool down with these 45 fun and easy water play ideas.