Preschool Water Play Activities

6/8/2023

Preschool Water Play Activities

Preschool water play activities are a great way to keep kids entertained while also helping them build important developmental skills. Water play is not only a fun and refreshing way for preschoolers to spend their time, it's also a valuable opportunity for sensory exploration and learning. Many activities can be done both indoors and outdoors, and can be adapted for different ages and skill levels. Below you will find some of our favorite preschool water play activities, suggested equipment and materials, and tips for facilitating safe water play in your program.

Equipment and Material for Water Play

To make the most of water play, having the right water equipment is key. From water tables to water toys, these equipment suggestions will help create an enriching and enjoyable water play experience for your little ones. Considerations for selecting equipment are dependent and based on age, skill level, and group size.

Water Tables are popular for both indoor and outdoor water play. These tables are designed with built-in trays and compartments that can be filled with water and various toys, such as: funnels, boats, water wheels, colanders, measuring cups, and spoons. This activity helps kids develop their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and sensory awareness.

Water tables vary from plastic to wood which can also vary in price. Some water tables can be divided in two different areas. Selecting a water table can be dependent on your budget, and preference! Check out this DIY water table shared by Building Blocks Family Childcare

Water Ramps are fun for preschool students. You can build your own using PVC gutters, or purchase ready made units. Students can practice “racing” boats, plastic balls, and foam toys, in the stream.

Water walls provide hours of fun for preschoolers. You can purchase your own, or make your own using a variety of tubes, and funnels. Community Member Shannon Jean shared this water table idea, love how she did the diy funnels and water wall.

Shannon Jean Water Wall

The kids at Building Blocks Family Childcare had fun with this water wall from Step 2. The parts can be moved around so kids can make their own paths.

If a water table isn't in your budget large containers that are typically used for under the bed storage make an excellent alternative.

Some suggested materials for water play include: watering cans, sponges, nets, colanders, water droppers, boats, magnetic fishing set, foam toys, bath toys, plastic measuring cups, small pitchers, spray bottles, clear tubing, funnels, and large kitchen spoons.

Teacher Tip: Visit the kitchen aisle your thrift store, dollar store, and your local hardware store for some fun items to add for water play. Don’t forget to keeps your eyes peeled for bath toys that can be used in sensory bins as well! So many items can be used in water play including plastic animals, counters, and so many other materials you might have in your classroom. The opportunities for water play are endless!

Preschool Water Play Activity Ideas

There are a variety of different types of water play activities, such as sensory play, games, and science experiments, that you can choose from to align with your preschool curriculum and support your student’s development goals. Preschoolers love playing in water so this is a great opportunity to extend their learning and keep them engaged!

Sensory Play Activities

Sensory play involves providing children with opportunities to explore and interact with various materials and objects that engage their senses. The focus is on providing a rich sensory experience that promotes learning, cognitive development, and emotional well-being. Sensory play can involve a wide range of materials such as water, sand, play dough, textured objects, scented items, and more.

Allowing children to explore different textures, temperatures, colors, and sounds, fosters their curiosity and creativity while enhancing their sensory processing skills. Pouring, scooping, blowing bubbles, and feeling different textures are all great ways to incorporate sensory experiences for your preschoolers.

Here are some tips to help you set up meaningful and exciting water play sensory experiences for preschoolers:

Create sensory stations that target multiple senses. Include materials and activities that stimulate sight, touch, hearing, and smell. This allows children to engage their senses in different ways. Adding exploration safe flower petals or lavender is a great way to incorporate different textures and smell to water play.

Change the water by adding materials to the water table that change the smell, feel, or consistency of the water. Save those dried up non-toxic markers for children to make their own potions and colorful water mixes in the water table. Make oobleck in the water table by providing corn starch for preschoolers to mix in, start by offering a recipe and then let them freely explore (have smocks for this one). Of course adding dish soap is always a popular choice!

Offer a variety of materials and textures for children to explore. Include items like sand,feathers, fabric, water beads, natural materials (leaves, shells), and more. This variety encourages preschoolers to explore and compare different textures.

Water Painting

Water painting is a fun and creative water play activity that involves painting with brushes and water on a large surface, such as a sidewalk or a fence. This activity helps kids develop their creativity and imagination, as well as their fine motor skills. Plus, it's easy to clean up and doesn't require any special materials. You can even use this activity with homemade chalk paint for added fun!

Car Wash or Toy Wash

A car wash or a toy wash is another fun water play activity! Students can wash cars, bikes, dolls, toys, plastic dishes, or even clothes, and practice drying them off. You can use this activity in your water table. Your preschoolers will love the soapy bubbles as they clean the toys! Bring the activity outdoors with a car wash dramatic play pack.

Setting out buckets, sudsy water, sponges and wash cloths a few times a year is a great way to keep preschoolers engaged while cleaning up outdoor equipment and toys.

Small water bottles are a popular item among kids of all ages and excellent for fine motor development!

Small World Water Play Invitation

If you're unfamiliar with small world play it is similar to dramatic play set-up but on a smaller scale and it's typically used with smaller materials like counters, plastic animals, and pretend people. You can also do this set-up in water play which is always fun with a pond or ocean theme.

For example, you could have a "beach" theme with sand and seashells, or a "garden" theme with soil, flowers, and plant pots. Themes provide a context for children's play and exploration, sparking their imagination and allowing for more engagement.
Community Member Ashley H. with Huwa Home Daycare created this fantastic Ocean Submarine Sinking and Floating exploration for her kiddos.

Fishing Hole

Take your preschoolers fishing in the sensory bin! Pair your water table with a magnetic fishing pole. You can also use this with a small pool filled with a shallow amount of water.

Games and Activities for Water Play

Water play games for preschoolers provide a range of developmental benefits. Water games promote social interaction and cooperative play as children collaborate, share toys, and communicate with their peers, fostering important social skills.

The best part is that games can be completely adapted for different ages and skill levels. You can simply change up the rules and requirements but also the equipment that is being used.

Squirt bottles are such a great way to encourage fine-motor practice and preschoolers love them. Set-up your sensory bin with water and add a few droplets of shaving cream throughout the bin then encourage your preschooler to spray the target (shaving cream).

Use water balloons, or a fun alternative like sponge bombs, or water balls. Set out buckets or containers for students to toss the balls into. This activity is perfect for a hot summer day and can help kids develop their gross motor skills while also providing a fun way to cool down. Add an educational component by adding a number to the buckets, or for your younger learners you can create a color matching activity. To keep it safe, make sure to supervise the children to avoid injuries!
A duck pond carnival game is sure to be a hit and easy to set up. Add plastic ducks to your sensory bin, and provide your students with slotted spoons, or small nets to scoop the ducks with. Use permanent markers to add shapes, numbers, or letters to the bottom of the ducks to create educational sorting activities.
Try a water pouring challenge by placing different-sized containers and cups in the sensory bin filled with water. Challenge children to transfer water from one container to another using ladles, cups, or funnels. Encourage them to experiment with pouring techniques to fill the containers without spilling.

Science Experiments with Water

Science experiments with water provide hands-on learning experiences and a way to engage preschoolers in making predictions, taking observations and learning new scientific concepts. There are so many different experiments you can do with your preschoolers that include water!

As you begin doing science experiments with your preschoolers it's important to allow for opportunities where they can pour, mix, and get a hands-on experience. And, don't forget to ask open-ended questions as this is one of the best ways to facilitate and foster observations and critical thinking.

Exploring Color Mixing

Color mixing is often one of the first science experiments you can do with preschoolers. It's also a favorite among little learners. Give preschoolers cups or bowls with primary colors and allow them to use droppers to mix the colors. It's so fun and with this activity they are in charge of their learning.
Try freezing colored water in an ice cube tray, children can add the ice cubes to the water to change the color.

Sink and Float

Use your water table and gather a variety of objects of different materials, such as plastic toys, blocks, and balls. Have your preschooler place each object into the water and observing whether it sinks or floats. Encourage them to make predictions before testing each object. If you're a member you can download this Sink or Float Book Companion to pair with this experiment.

Frozen Water

Freeze items like small dinosaurs and counters and then have your preschoolers use spray bottles with warm water to release the items. Simple and fun but really works the fine-motor muscles.

Watering Plants

Do you have a classroom garden or plant? If so, grab a few spray bottles and have your preschoolers water the plants with spray bottles or watering cans. Talk to your preschoolers about why plants need water and the importance of watering them.

Tips for Facilitating Safe Water Play

Always provide close and constant supervision whenever preschoolers are near water, whether it's a bathtub, pool, or any other body of water. Never leave them unattended, even for a moment. It's also important to remind preschoolers to keep water inside of the containers, water tables, and bins to prevent accidents with slipping and falling.

We suggest going over safety procedures and having a conversation with your preschoolers about safety and what to do in an emergency before introducing any water play. Talk to your preschoolers about what to do in case of an emergency. And, simple reminders of what safe water play looks like.

Don't forget with your water table comes cleaning and taking care of the equipment to prevent the spread of bacteria and germs.

Empty your water table at the end of each day
Clean it with mild soap and warm water
Let it air dry or wipe it clean before storing
Use the same practices with the toys you used during water play
Make sure all of your toys and items are put away before storing

Water play is a staple in the preschool classroom! And, they are a great way to keep kids entertained while also helping them develop important skills. Whether it's playing with water tables, or painting with water, these activities are easy to set up and can be adapted for different ages and skill levels. Plus, they provide a fun and refreshing way to beat the heat during the summer months.