Outdoor water play ideas
And sand ideas too!
Outdoor water play is not only a great way to get outside in the summer holidays, but also provides countless learning opportunities for toddlers and preschoolers, and beyond! Engaging in simple and easy water play activities can enhance sensory development, fine and gross motor skills, and even introduce basic life skills.
We have compiled a list of exciting outdoor water play ideas that will keep your little ones (and bigger ones) entertained for hours while promoting their growth and enjoyment. Get ready to create a splash with these fun-filled activities, including the ever-popular water wall, sensory fun science experiments, and interactive water tables.
Remember, safety should always be a priority when playing with water. Ensure proper supervision and consider the age and abilities of the children participating.
Water Wall Wonders
Constructing a water wall is a fantastic outdoor water play idea that stimulates children’s curiosity and creativity while promoting their fine motor skills. Utilising materials such as plastic bottles, tubes and funnels on a pallet or wall, or our Water Play Activity Rack and our Sand and Watch Activity Set, you can create a vertical water pathway. Create happy hooligans that will be thrilled as they pour, measure, and observe the water flowing down their self-made structure. This hands-on activity allows them to explore cause and effect relationships while having a blast for years to come.
Slip ‘n Slide Obstacle Course
Constructing a water wall is a fantastic outdoor water play idea that stimulates children’s curiosity and creativity while promoting their fine motor skills. Utilising materials such as plastic bottles, tubes a
nd funnels on a pallet or wall, or our Water Play Activity Rack and our Sand and Watch Activity Set, you can create a vertical water pathway. Create happy hooligans that will be thrilled as they pour, measure, and observe the water flowing down their self-made structure. This hands-on activity allows them to explore cause and effect relationships while having a blast for years to come.
DIY Splash Pad
Create your own mini splash pad in your backyard using a tarp, sprinklers, and water toys. Lay the tarp on the ground, set up sprinklers around it, and let the water flow. Children can run, jump, and splash around in the refreshing water.
Slip
Another fun water activity is to set up a slip ‘n slide in your garden and incorporate various obstacles along the way, such as tunnels, hoops, or inflatable objects. It’s easy to set-up and children can slide through the course, splashing and laughing as they navigate the challenges.
Sensory Science Experiments
Combine water play with science exploration to engage your kids in exciting sensory experiments. Freeze water in different shaped containers or ice cube trays, creating fascinating ice blocks. These icy creations can be added to a Sand and Water Tray, Desk Top Water Trays or a washing up bowl where little ones can observe the ice melting, experiment with temperature changes, squirt with warm water in a water gun, and even add food colouring for an extra sensory dimension. These science activities not only promote cognitive development but also enhance their fine motor skills as they manipulate the ice and observe the changes taking place.
Looking for Nursery Outdoor Play Area ideas? Read our blog on How to design an active children’s play area out in the open.
Outdoor Play Car Wash
For some simple fun, set up a “car wash” station where kids can scrub their bikes, trikes, or outdoor toys, enhancing their fine motor skills and teaching them the importance of cleanliness and responsibility.
Water Balloon Piñatas
Hang water-filled balloons from a tree branch or clothesline. Blindfold the participants and give them a stick to hit the balloons. The burst of water from each balloon adds a fun and refreshing element to the game.
Interactive Water Tables
Our Circular Water Tray or water tables are versatile and easily adjustable play stations that provide endless opportunities for water play. Whether it’s scooping, pouring, or splashing, these tables allow children to engage in easy and fun water activities while developing their fine motor skills. Incorporate various toys such as boats, cups, and utensils to enhance their imaginative play. By adding food elements such as colourful fruits, vegetables, or even edible flowers, you can introduce the concept of healthy eating, promote sensory exploration, and encourage social interactions as they share their culinary creations.
Water Gun Painting
Fill squirt guns with water mixed with washable paint. Hang a large white sheet or canvas on a fence or clothesline. Encourage children to aim and shoot the water guns at the canvas, creating unique and colourful patterns.
Read all about The benefits of outdoor play in the early years in our blog, including how early years children who watch hours of TV are only using two of their five senses – sight and hearing.
Floating Boat Races
Use small toy boats or homemade boats made from recycled materials. Set up a water-filled track using gutters, inflatable pools, or a narrow waterway. Children can race their boats, using their breath or straws to propel them forward.
Nature Water Exploration
Take a trip to a nearby stream, river, or beach and encourage children to explore the water and its surroundings. Provide buckets, nets, and magnifying glasses for them to observe and collect different aquatic plants, insects, and small creatures.
Adapt Water Ideas to Sand Play
Many of the ideas we have given for water can be adapted to sand too! By incorporating sand, children can explore the unique textures and sensory experiences that sand offers. Throw in some of our Transparent Tactile Shells for a colourful addition. They are wonderful to take to the beach as they are packed in a handy storage jar.
Outdoor water and sand play is a valuable and enjoyable experience for children of all ages. They provide opportunities for children to have fun while developing their cognitive, sensory, fine motor, and gross motor skills. Engaging in these simple and easy outdoor water play ideas (and sand!) not only allows children to explore the properties of water but also fosters their creativity, imagination, and social interactions.
So, gather your kids and their friends, and make a splash with these exciting outdoor water play activities today. Enjoy the splashes, laughter, and learning that come with these outdoor water play ideas!
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