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Today I am sharing one of my favorite summer toys with you; a water table. I am also excited to be teaming up with some amazing therapy bloggers today to share our favorite summer toys.
Favorite Summer Toys: Water Tables!
I love sensory activities for kids. Ironically I can't stand it when my daughter gets mud or dirt on her. HA! I think I have some of my own sensory issues, but who doesn't?
Water tables are a great way to have some sensory fun during the summer! We have been waiting to use our water table that E got for Christmas for a while. Since I knew E would have a blast playing in it, I wanted to keep it as an outside activity! If you are feeling exceptionally brave one day, you could use it inside in a room that has a tile floor for easier cleanup. But I'm not that brave.
Summer FINALLY came around here, so we pulled out our brand new water table! I found a few toys that E could explore with in the water table; lots of containers for dumping and splashing with.
As you can see in the picture on the bottom right, the small cups also make for great drinking tools! 🙂 Our sensory table also has a little tower on it that you can pour water through and watch the wheels turn as the water goes through!
You can find lots of different types of water tables on Amazon, but here is the one we have:
I love the idea of putting the sand in the top area with the water in the bottom area. Definitely, need to get some sand to try that. Here are a few more options:
Water tables are a great way to explore and have fun while still learning and working on the following skill areas:
- Sensory play and exploration
- Fine motor skills (dumping, pouring, grabbing toys)
- Eye-hand and visual motor skills/coordination
- Social skills – if they are playing with siblings, neighbors, or friends (sharing, turn taking etc)
Our Favorite Summer Toys
The Inspired Treehouse – Slackers Slackline – Gross Motor
OT Cafe – Ice Cube Paints – Sensory, Fine Motor
Golden Reflections Blog – Water Table – Sensory, Fine Motor, Visual Motor, Social
Pink Oatmeal – Pool Noodles – Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Sensory
Therapy Fun Zone – Water Squirting– Fine Motor, Hand Strength, Visual Motor
Your Therapy Source – Sidewalk Chalk – Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Visual Motor
Mama OT – Bubbles – Fine Motor, Sensory, Speech-Language, Visual Motor, Social
Starfish Therapies – Hula Hoops – Gross Motor, Visual Motor
Playapy – Timocco – Motor Coordination, Body Strength
For more great sensory and summer activities, check out my Pinterest boards.
Follow Heather @ Golden Reflections Blog's board Summer Fine Motor Activities on Pinterest.
Follow Heather @ Golden Reflections Blog's board Sensory Fun on Pinterest.
Emma @ P is for Preschooler says
A simple water table can still keep my daughter entertained for quite a while, even at 5 years old. And on hot summer days, it’s a great way to cool off too!
Maritza says
This is a great idea! I have yet to get one for my kiddos…: )
Karen Baciuk says
I do want one of this.
Megan Romer says
Water table is on our amazon wishlist for toddler!
Chris McDougall says
Love this for language and sensory needs.
Melissa D says
We’re heading outside to clean up our water table & patio this morning! And we just picked up the ice cream play set from IKEA on Saturday, so I’m excited to take that with us. 🙂
Leslie says
My daughter is getting a water table for her birthday from my parents. Can’t wait to try it out! I am also not brave enough to do inside quite yet…glad her bday is in July!
Sarah Andrews says
I would love a water table. My sensory kids love taking baths.
KimK says
This is a favorite tool of mine with so many different ways to use it!
Katie @ Cup of Tea Blog says
I’ve been itching to get a water table for a while! I tell myself to wait until my DD can actually stand 🙂 But definitely on the list for next year!!
Kim says
I purchased a water table last summer for hours of fun!!!
The Dabbling Speechie says
I love that I can use sand or water with a table. These keep kids engaged and there are endless possibilities for language development with these tables.
Lori says
Water/sand tables are awesome! The one shown in the picture looks like a good size when you don’t have tons of extra room.
Micah Brown says
A water table would be perfect for my 2 year old on these summer days!!! Thanks for the ideas!
Carrie says
I love water tables. I had one for Micah a couple years ago but it got eaten by a dog at the home we were leaving it at. I would love to get another one for Molly to have.
Jen K says
Definitely a fun activity. It can keep children occupied for hours!
Jennifer says
I want one so bad! I was looking at them and was going to try and make my own!
Ashley W says
I need to buy a water table, but I can’t decide which one to buy. They all look fun!
Crystal Dawn says
My son loves his so much I bought a second one so he has a full sand and a full water table side by side. We manage to get use about 9 months of the year on our deck.
betty says
We love our water table. MamaOt posted lots of interesting activities to do with them.
Dana says
I love water!
Stephanie K says
fun!
Laura J says
Oh we got Carter a water table last year and he has so much fun playing in the water!!! So great for sensory!!!
Margie says
I love the different shapes and designs of all of these tables! It’s nice to have some different play ideas.
Kristie says
I don’t have a water table for my little girl but I know it is a great activity and use water play in therapy.
Natalie says
I like that my nephew can play with this without bending over. He loves water!
Anna H says
I love going to museums that have these. Kids seems to love to team up and work together on making various play schemes happen in them. It would be so much fun to have one and use it during therapy time.
Jaclyn Reynolds says
This is the perfect summer outdoor toy! Just add toys and they are set!
Michelle J. says
We just set up our water table and love it!
Donna Kellogg says
My Grandson would love one of these
Becca Wilson says
I have always wanted a water table for my kids. This one looks super fun and easy.
Melissa says
That’s really cool, and beats an inflatable pool in my opinion.
Taylor Closet says
MY LITTLE GIRL LOVES PLAYING IN THE WATER! THIS IS PERFECT!
Liz says
This looks so much fun for outside play.
Melissa Mazzur says
Perfect for those hot summer days!
Daniel M says
looks like a fun way to stay cool
Jennifer Shelton says
My son has a water table and he LOVES it!
Anne Ypma says
I wish I would have known about this one a couple years ago, I think my kiddos are a little too old now…
barbara Adams says
Looks like the perfect size, some take up the entire room availabe
Jill Rulis says
I can’t wait for my 9month old to have more stability and be able to enjoy a water table! For now he’s splashing in a kiddie pool 🙂
acey says
yes, we will be doing a LOT Of water play this summer! my little one loves the water…we’ll probably go the bucket route at home and the inflatable pool right at mammaw’s…unless of course i win the gift card, i will probably get us one of these!!!
Adrienne Murray says
Used to work in a Reggio-inspired preschool…water play is the best!
Kristin Gideon says
My dad actually built my kids a water table, and this post reminds me that I need to clean it out and get it ready for summer! I love the bells and whistles of the ones you posted, but I’ll be sure to add lots of fun elements to ours this year. Great ideas!
Thomas Murphy says
My favorite summer activity is going to the beach.
Jill says
Water tables are fantastic! We love sensory play.
Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!