No pool in your backyard? You’re not alone— only around 15% of households in the U.S. have swimming pools. But that doesn’t mean your toddler can’t enjoy the benefits of a pool without actually having one. Let’s take a look at some water play supplies you can start gathering now to keep your kiddo cool all summer long!
Supplies for Epic Water Play Fun
Sensory Bins
Toddler-friendly Spray Bottle
Bubbles
Household Toys
Sponge Brushes
Old Toothbrushes
Sprinkler or Splash Pad
Plastic Ice Cubes
Sensory Bins
A few years ago, Target came out with clear personal size storage bins and you know what they're perfect for? Cheap sensory bins!
The clear transparency of the bins provides toddlers with a comprehensive visual of the materials inside the container. The low height of the bins make them ideal for kids to easily reach in and start playing. Plus, they don't require much water to fill up and are easier to dump and/or move to a shady area than say a water table.
If you're not convinced yet, a Target reviewer of these bins, named Cathy, wrote, "These are awesome for sensory bins! I love that they fit a good amount and are shallow so my son can reach in and play while seated at the table!"
Developmental Benefits:
Fine Motor Skills, Sensory Exposure
Toddler-Friendly Spray Bottle
These travel size spray bottles are an easy way to keep kids cool while encouraging independent play! Fill these little guys up with fresh cold water before heading outside and watch your little one find endless uses!
They're basically designed for small hands to manipulate with complete ease and the only setting is a mist. There isn't knob to adjust for a direct squirt, which means your kiddo will not have to constantly run over to you asking for help adjusting the setting.
Adult-size tools and supplies aren't always optimal for toddlers. Would you give a toddler adult-size scissors to use? Of course not! Sure, there's a significant risk of injury, but my main concern with this scenario is the fact that it's asking a toddler to demonstrate advanced fine motor skills (scissor handles are heavy). Two and 3 year-olds should be focused on developing muscle strength in their little hands. Mastery with tools takes time and lots of practice to develop.
These spray bottles are also a gentle method of exposing sensory avoidant kids to sensory play. Over the years, I've worked with a handful of kids that have been scared of to run through a sprinkler, but none have ever been scared of getting misted with these spray bottles or trying them out. I first came across these spray bottles at my local Wegmans (in the travel-size section). But, you can also find them on Amazon.
Tip: The travel size spray bottles you typically find at Target or Walmart are bit larger in size, which is why I recommend the Good-to-Go travel size spray bottles, especially for younger toddlers.
Developmental Benefits:
Fine Motor Skills (good practice with hand-eye coordination), Active Play (physical activity), Mindfulness of the Environment
Bubbles
There are many reliable bubble solution recipes floating around out there (get it)? For the sake of time and water waste, I pass on making my own bubbles- the margin for error and waste is just too high. Instead, I buy a huge bottle of bubble solution from Target (128 oz.). This bottle will likely last you all season long. I've tested many bubble solution brands over the years. These bubbles are the most bubbly, most reliable and most affordable on the market- only $5!
This jug of bubbles can be used to refill personal size kid's bubbles, fill up bubble machines, and as soap solution for cleaning toys in sensory bins.
Developmental Benefits:
Fine Motor Skills, Emotional Regulation (learning not to get too upset if/when they can't blow a bubble), Patience, Cognitive Development (exploration of cause & effect), Sensory Exposure
Household Toys
Not many parents realize that you don't HAVE to buy new toys for summer. Pull out an old clear tupperware container or buy one of the sensory bin containers mentioned above, throw in some bubble solution, water, and repurpose toys you already have around the house!
Open up your notes app and make a quick list of your kid’s toys that dry fairly easily. The next time you need to keep a kid busy, challenge them to get their favorite action figure or barbie really dirty outside. Then, ask them to give the toy a bath in the sensory bin.
This short video has some other ideas you can try using this approach! ->
Developmental Benefits:
Fine Motor Skills, Problem Solving (what can and can't be washed? how long will an object take to dry?), Patience (waiting for toys or objects to dry)
Sponge Brushes
Unsurprisingly, sponge brushes are great at absorbing water. They're fairly cheap, you can find them at the Dollar Tree or a larger pack from the craft store.
Sponge brushes can also be used for indoor crafts on a rainy day. These brushes are good for painting wooden crafts and/or as a mixing tool with a shaving cream activity.
Developmental Benefits:
Fine motor skills, Cognitive Development (exploration of cause & effect), Creativity
Old Toothbrushes
Instead of throwing away your kid's old worn toothbrush, store it with sensory play supplies. Toothbrushes are easier for small hands to manipulate than dish brushes.
When washing small toys like Hot Wheels or even seashells, smaller bristle heads allow toddlers to take their time as they bathe or clean their toys. During the activities where they use toothbrushes, kids tend to be a lot more mindful and observant of the qualities of the toys or objects they're cleaning. I often hear kids excitingly point out something about a toy that they never noticed before.
Developmental Benefits:
Fine Motor Skills, Language Development (practice communicating observations), Mindfulness
Sprinkler or Splash Pad
Sprinklers are more than just practical tools for watering your lawn— they're often a source of pure joys for many kids!
Splash pads are one of the most convenient ways to cool down a toddler while they play independently.
Both sprinklers and splash pads present little to no risk of drowning for toddlers, so constant supervision isn't required 100% of the time. That means, you can take take a breather, grab some water, and even load the dishwasher before returning outside to play with your kiddo!
Developmental Benefits:
Gross Motor Skills (running, jumping), Active Play, Sensory Exposure
Plastic Ice Cubes
Throughout the summer, keep a bag of small plastic ice cubes in the freezer. Ice cubes are a sensational addition to sensory bin play.
I've also worked with many 2-3 year olds that enjoy stacking the cubes to form a tower or sorting them into to make patterns.
Note: Most 2 year olds will require monitoring while playing with these cubes considering they can be a choking hazard.
Developmental Benefits:
Fine Motor Skills, Sensory Exposure, Pattern Recognition, Cognitive Development (exploration of cause & effect)
Common Questions About Water Play:
Is there a difference between a sensory bin, sensory table, and a water table?
A sensory bin is a container or tray (that has slight depth). Adults fill the bin with materials that stimulate the senses. Sensory bins allow kiddos to have their own personal workspace and can result in less arguing with peers or siblings.
Sensory tables are basically deeper sensory bins that are designed into a table. The tables vary by length, which make them great for shared places, like a classroom or play studio. Sensory tables can also be tool for teaching kids to share resources within a collective environment.
Water tables are large sensory tables specifically designed for water play and they have a plug underneath for draining. I've noticed that these days, popular water tables (like Step 2 brand) are designed with more of a close-ended approach. This looks like toddlers playing at the table daily until they've fully comprehended how the water wheel and other accessories work (two weeks tops), then they never seem to touch it again... I say go for an outdoor basic sensory table over a Step 2 water table. This way you can change up the materials and tools you put in the table and you can bring the table indoors during the off-season.
Is water play educational for toddlers?
What are the benefits of water play for toddlers?
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