Simple Summer Water Play
Don’t feel like filling up the kiddie pool? Try these simple and fun ways to get wet and stay cool with minimal preparation.
Fence Painting
Maybe it’s Tom Sawyer syndrome, but I remember spending several hot summer days as a child “working” hard to paint our fence with water and a paintbrush. Getting to use a real grownup paintbrush was exciting and of course, not all of the water made it to the fence!
Driveway Masterpiece
Grab a bucket of water and a paintbrush and create a water masterpiece on the driveway. Add some flare by drawing with sidewalk chalk first! This is also a fun way to practice shapes, letter formation, or spelling.
Bike Wash
Pull out the bikes and some soapy water and host a neighborhood bike wash. Or make a car wash sensory bin to wash all of your matchbox cars.
Dump and Pour
Buckets and cups full of water are great for transferring water back and forth and exploring how different “tools” hold water. Sponges, wash cloths and bath or pool toys are great for this!
Just Add Bubbles
Add some soap bubbles to those buckets or tubs of water for some good, clean fun. Baby shampoo from the dollar store is an inexpensive and tear-free way to play.
Color Play
Add different color food coloring to various containers and let your little Picasso explore color mixing. Go easy and just use a few drops so you don’t have any issues with staining.
Water Feast
Raid your kitchen cabinets for some bowls and pots and let your little one whip up an imaginary meal. Add some utensils like slotted spoons, ladles, plastic measuring cups, and a turkey baster to let your child really cook up a storm!
Cold as Ice
Toss some ice cubes into the water bucket and let your kids fish them out using spoons or cups (or their hands or feet!). Have a contest to see who can find a way to make their ice cube last longest or melt the fastest.
Stay cool and enjoy your Summer water play!