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Water Table Activities: They Can Be Used for More than Just Water Play
Our favourite water table!
I spent last summer searching for a water table for the kiddos. We buy most of our toys second hand but we just couldn’t find anyone who was selling on their table.
In the end I decided to buy a new one for them for Christmas and decided on a Step2 table because I had heard so many good things about them and loved that it had a parasol for shade on sunny days.
It was really easy to put together and is sturdy enough to stand the test of time, maybe that’s why no one ever wants to sell one on!
Hubby was a bit surprised as to why I would buy a water table as a Christmas present, as it was far too cold to be outside. But I want to be able to use the table indoors in the winter for sensory play.
When we introduced the kiddos to their new water table on Christmas morning it was filled with dried pasta, and that kept them entertained for hours.
But I needed some more ideas so I pulled together this collection of activities we can do with our water table both indoors and outside.
I hope the list inspires you too!
Sensory Water Table Activities for Preschoolers
Water table activities are a great way for children to learn through sensory play. And you don’t just have to fill them with sand or water. Sensory ingredients like pasta, ice and even shaving foam can lead to hours of fun and laughter.
Farm Animal Washing Station – Coffee Cups & Crayons
Farm Animal Washing Station – Coffee Cups & Crayons – we do this sensory activity a LOT with my little boy who LOVES farm animals! Sometimes we use mud, but we like to mix things up and use shaving foam and even jello!
Swamp Sensory Tub – No Time For Flash Cards
Swamp Sensory Tub – No Time For Flash Cards – This sensory swamp looks like a lot of fun. It needs to be prepared in advance as you need to actually make the ‘swamp’ and I think it’s best for outdoor play with the water table as it could get very messy.
Ocean Sensory Table – Stir The Wonder
Water Beads
Ocean Sensory Table – Stir The Wonder – We love water beads! The texture is just something else and they are so interesting to explore and play with. We can’t wait to set up a small world ocean table like this one!
Corn Sensory Play – FSPDT
Corn Sensory Play – FSPDT – Now here’s a great idea for sensory play that you can set up indoors. I just need to order a huge bag of corn!
Ocean Sensory Bin – Happy Hooligans
Ocean Sensory Bin – Happy Hooligans – This one looks like fabulous fun for playing with the water table outside on a hot day. I love how the corks are used as little boats.
Marshmallow Sensory Play – Fantastic Fun and Learning
Marshmallow Sensory Play – Fantastic Fun and Learning – I would never have thought to put different temperature water in the two sides of the water table, simple but very sensory!
Soap Fluff Sensory Play – The Imagination Tree
Soap Fluff Sensory Play – The Imagination Tree – Oh my. This is most definitely an outdoor activity, but would you just look at that soap fluff! As soon as the sun comes back we are giving this a try and I’m going to have to get in there and play with it too!
Icy Dinosaur Excavation Sensory Play – Little Bins for Little Hands
72 mini dinosaurs to excavate!
Icy Dinosaur Excavation Sensory Play – Little Bins for Little Hands – This one takes some prep because you need to freeze some dinosaurs, but it looks like a lot of fun for a hot summer’s day.
Sensory Tub Painting – No Time For Flash Cards
Sensory Tub Painting – No Time For Flash Cards – My kiddos would love this, when they paint indoors they always end up with the paint all up their arms from squishing it in their fingers! I think I might wait until it’s warm enough to do this outside on the deck though!
The Great Water Table Experiment – Stir The Wonder
The Great Water Table Experiment – Stir The Wonder – I love the ideas here for doing a few different things in one water table session. From gloop, to ice cubes and even letter recognition.
Sensory Spring Water Table – The Pleasantest Thing
Sensory Spring Water Table – The Pleasantest Thing – We always have more dandelions than we know what to do with in our lawn, and Miss E loves to pick them, so this is the perfect activity for her.
Colored Scented Shaving Cream in the Water Table – Simple Fun for Kids
Colored Scented Shaving Cream in the Water Table – Simple Fun for Kids – Who knew you could have so much fun with some shaving foam and some food colouring!
Making a MESS is the BEST! – CAUTION! Twins at play!
Making a MESS is the BEST! – CAUTION! Twins at play! – Ooh this dyed pasta looks awesome, with tongs and cups to practice picking up and filling. I am having serious play area envy just looking at the rest of the photos on this page too!
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