It is difficult to keep the little ones away from the sun.
They are kids after all.
They just want to play all day long.
What better way to keep them engaged than to come up with water activities?
It will save them from sunburns and also keep dehydration at bay.
In this article, we bring to you a collection of 9 water activities to keep your children engaged and cool.
1. Pouring Station
A simple activity that builds fine motor skills while letting kids explore water flow and volume.
Requirements:
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Plastic pitchers, cups, and bowls
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Water table or large bin
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Towels for cleanup
How to Play:
Set out a variety of pouring tools at a water table or bin filled with water. Kids take turns scooping, pouring, and transferring water between containers. Encourage them to compare sizes and test how different containers hold and spill water.
This activity is calming and great for solo or side-by-side play.
2. Ice Cube Rescue
A cool sensory game where kids try to “rescue” toys frozen inside ice cubes.
Requirements:
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Ice cubes with small toys frozen inside
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Bowls or trays
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Warm water and droppers
How to Play:
Place the ice cubes with hidden toys on trays or bowls. Give kids droppers or small squeeze bottles filled with warm water. They drop water over the ice to melt it and free the toys. It’s a slow-paced, focused activity that encourages problem-solving and fine motor use.
3. Sink or Float
A hands-on science activity where kids learn about buoyancy in a fun and splashy way.
Requirements:
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Clear bin of water
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Assorted safe household items (spoon, sponge, toy, rock, etc.)
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Towel for drying
How to Play:
Set out a container filled with water and a tray of different items. Kids guess whether each object will sink or float, then drop it in to test their prediction. Talk about the results and encourage them to find patterns or group similar items. It’s great for early science exploration.
4. Sponge Squeeze
A simple activity that strengthens little hands while keeping kids cool and entertained.
Requirements:
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Large sponges
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Two buckets (one with water, one empty)
How to Play:
Fill one bucket with water and place the other a short distance away. Kids dip a sponge into the full bucket, squeeze out the water into the empty one, and repeat. The goal is to transfer as much water as they can, which keeps them moving and laughing while developing hand strength.
5. Water Painting
A mess-free creative outlet that lets kids “paint” with just water.
Requirements:
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Paintbrushes, rollers, or sponges
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Small containers of water
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Fence, sidewalk, chalkboard, or cardboard
How to Play:
Kids dip their brushes or tools in water and “paint” on outdoor surfaces like fences or concrete. The water darkens the area temporarily, giving the illusion of real painting. Indoors, cardboard boxes or chalkboards work great too. It’s perfect for creative play without cleanup.
6. Rainbow Water Mixing
A colorful experiment that lets kids explore color mixing and water play together.
Requirements:
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Clear plastic cups or jars
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Food coloring
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Water, droppers, or spoons
How to Play:
Fill clear cups with water and add different food coloring to each. Give kids empty cups to mix the colors using droppers or spoons. Let them guess what new color they’ll get before mixing. It’s a playful way to learn basic color theory and enjoy sensory fun.
7. Water Sensory Bin
An open-ended play activity that encourages tactile exploration and imagination.
Requirements:
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Water bin or shallow tub
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Plastic animals, cups, boats, and bath toys
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Towels or mats for easy cleanup
How to Play:
Fill the bin with water and add a mix of toys and tools. Kids can scoop, splash, pour, or create pretend stories with animals or boats. It keeps preschoolers engaged for long stretches and helps build fine motor coordination and pretend play skills.
8. Indoor Car Wash
A pretend play activity where kids “wash” toy cars with water and bubbles.
Requirements:
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Toy cars
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Shallow bin or tray
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Sponges, brushes, and soapy water
How to Play:
Set up a mini car wash station using a tray of soapy water and a few cleaning tools. Kids dip the cars in water, scrub them clean, and rinse. You can add a drying station with towels for the finishing touch. It’s a fun way to combine role play with sensory exploration.
9. Scoop & Transfer Race
A gentle, preschool-friendly race where kids scoop water and try to transfer it to another container.
Requirements:
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Small bowls of water
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Measuring cups, ladles, or spoons
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Empty containers
How to Play:
Each child uses a scoop to transfer water from their bowl into a separate container placed a short distance away. They walk slowly to avoid spills, which adds challenge and excitement. The activity builds coordination, patience, and motor control—all while having fun.
See Also:
These games are extremely fun.
They are not just a source of entertainment but can also play a crucial role in enhancing the cognitive abilities of your tot.
Let us know which one was your favorite.