Toddler water activities

Water play does not need a paddling pool. A bowl on a tray, a couple of cups and a towel underneath is enough for twenty minutes of pouring, splashing and fishing things out. The activities on this page all use water and are written for indoors on an ordinary day. They build hand control, teach the basics of full and empty, floating and sinking, and are wonderfully calming for a child who is wound up. Keep it shallow, stay close, and use warm water in winter. Full steps and switch-ups for each below.

82 activities

Copy My Sip illustration Copy My Sip from 12 months · 5 min First Sips Together illustration First Sips Together from 12 months · 5-10 min Flour Hand Prints illustration Flour Hand Prints from 12 months · 25-40 min Garden Splash Tray illustration Garden Splash Tray from 12 months · 10-15 min Stir the Pan illustration Stir the Pan from 12 months · 5-10 min Two-Handed Cup Hold illustration Two-Handed Cup Hold from 12 months · 5-10 min Wash the Pumpkin illustration Wash the Pumpkin from 12 months · 10-15 min Wet Hand Prints illustration Wet Hand Prints from 12 months · 10-15 min Wet Sponge Squeeze illustration Wet Sponge Squeeze from 12 months · 20-35 min Watering Can Fill illustration Watering Can Fill from 13 months · 5-10 min Basin Boat Bob illustration Basin Boat Bob from 14 months · 5-10 min Bye-Bye, Bath Water illustration Bye-Bye, Bath Water from 14 months · 5 min Cheers! illustration Cheers! from 14 months · 5 min Cornflour Goop Tray illustration Cornflour Goop Tray from 14 months · 20-35 min Cup on the Table illustration Cup on the Table from 14 months · 5-10 min Funnel Water Race illustration Funnel Water Race from 14 months · 5-10 min Picnic Blanket Sips illustration Picnic Blanket Sips from 14 months · 20-30 min Sink-Side Cup Play illustration Sink-Side Cup Play from 14 months · 10-15 min Sponge Squeeze Bucket Transfer illustration Sponge Squeeze Bucket Transfer from 14 months · 20-35 min Teddy's Turn to Drink illustration Teddy's Turn to Drink from 14 months · 10-15 min Garden Watering Round illustration Garden Watering Round from 15 months · 20-40 min Flour Dough Knead illustration Flour Dough Knead from 16 months · 20-40 min Foam First illustration Foam First from 16 months · 5-10 min Frozen Toy Dig illustration Frozen Toy Dig from 16 months · 25-40 min Paintbrush Puddle Art illustration Paintbrush Puddle Art from 16 months · 5-10 min Pom-Pom Water Scoop illustration Pom-Pom Water Scoop from 16 months · 20-35 min Water Bottle Fill Help illustration Water Bottle Fill Help from 16 months · 5-10 min Bubble Bath Whisk illustration Bubble Bath Whisk from 18 months · 20-30 min Egg Box Boat Float illustration Egg Box Boat Float from 18 months · 10-15 min Milk or Water? illustration Milk or Water? from 18 months · 5 min Whisk Air Bubbles illustration Whisk Air Bubbles from 18 months · 5-10 min Bottle Car Wash illustration Bottle Car Wash from 20 months · 30-45 min Carton Funnel Pour illustration Carton Funnel Pour from 20 months · 10-15 min Soapy Whisk Bubbles illustration Soapy Whisk Bubbles from 20 months · 5-10 min Funnel Pour Practice illustration Funnel Pour Practice from 22 months · 10-15 min Water Painting illustration Water Painting from 22 months · 10-15 min Big Jug, Little Cups illustration Big Jug, Little Cups from 24 months · 30-45 min Cauldron Potion illustration Cauldron Potion from 24 months · 20-30 min Cauldron Scoop and Count illustration Cauldron Scoop and Count from 24 months · 15-25 min Coffee Filter Bats illustration Coffee Filter Bats from 24 months · 15-20 min Monster Teeth Brushing illustration Monster Teeth Brushing from 24 months · 10-15 min Puddle Boat Race illustration Puddle Boat Race from 24 months · 20-40 min Pumpkin Spice Café illustration Pumpkin Spice Café from 26 months · 20-30 min Muddy Garden Pat-A-Cake illustration Muddy Garden Pat-A-Cake from 28 months · 25-40 min Snack Time Pourer illustration Snack Time Pourer from 28 months · 5 min Washing Dolly's Hands illustration Washing Dolly's Hands from 28 months · 10-15 min Heavy or Light? illustration Heavy or Light? from 30 months · 5-10 min Teddy Tea Party Pour illustration Teddy Tea Party Pour from 30 months · 10-15 min What Disappears? illustration What Disappears? from 30 months · 20-30 min Sink or Float Guess illustration Sink or Float Guess from 33 months · 10-15 min Barefoot Feely Path illustration Barefoot Feely Path from 36 months · 15-20 min Bike and Scooter Wash illustration Bike and Scooter Wash from 36 months · 30-40 min Bubble Snake Bottle illustration Bubble Snake Bottle from 36 months · 10-15 min Calm-Down Glitter Bottle illustration Calm-Down Glitter Bottle from 36 months · 10-15 min Cress Head Pots illustration Cress Head Pots from 36 months · 30-40 min Dolls' Clothes Wash illustration Dolls' Clothes Wash from 36 months · 10-15 min Fill to the Line illustration Fill to the Line from 36 months · 5-10 min Frozen Toy Rescue illustration Frozen Toy Rescue from 36 months · 30-40 min Hair Salon illustration Hair Salon from 36 months · 30-40 min Lemonade Stall illustration Lemonade Stall from 36 months · 30-45 min Mud Pie Recipes illustration Mud Pie Recipes from 36 months · 30-45 min Pack Your Own Bag illustration Pack Your Own Bag from 36 months · 5-10 min Petal Perfume illustration Petal Perfume from 36 months · 30-40 min Plant Spring Bulbs illustration Plant Spring Bulbs from 36 months · 30-40 min Rainbow Water Cups illustration Rainbow Water Cups from 36 months · 10-15 min Salt Dough Shapes illustration Salt Dough Shapes from 36 months · 30-40 min Sandcastle Row illustration Sandcastle Row from 36 months · 15-20 min Shine the Windows illustration Shine the Windows from 36 months · 10-15 min Splash Sounds Test illustration Splash Sounds Test from 36 months · 10-15 min Sponge Bucket Relay illustration Sponge Bucket Relay from 36 months · 30-40 min Spray Bottle Painting illustration Spray Bottle Painting from 36 months · 15-20 min Tear the Salad Leaves illustration Tear the Salad Leaves from 36 months · 10-15 min Toy Mending Day illustration Toy Mending Day from 36 months · 30-40 min Warm and Cold Hands illustration Warm and Cold Hands from 36 months · 10-15 min Wash the Plastic Plates illustration Wash the Plastic Plates from 36 months · 10-15 min Water Brush Letters illustration Water Brush Letters from 36 months · 10-15 min Welly Boot Scrub illustration Welly Boot Scrub from 36 months · 10-15 min Wet and Dry Stones illustration Wet and Dry Stones from 36 months · 10-15 min What Dissolves? illustration What Dissolves? from 36 months · 30-40 min Which Cup Holds More? illustration Which Cup Holds More? from 36 months · 30-40 min Witch's Potion Lab illustration Witch's Potion Lab from 36 months · 30-40 min Foil Tray Boats illustration Foil Tray Boats from 38 months · 30-45 min

Other things from the house

Toddler activities with a bowl · Toddler activities with a spoon · Toddler activities with a basket · Toddler activities with cups · Toddler activities with a tray · Toddler activities with paper · Toddler activities with a cardboard box · Toddler activities with a blanket · Toddler activities with a towel · Toddler activities with socks · Toddler activities with masking tape · Toddler activities with jar lids · Toddler activities with a ball · All activities