Kids love playing with water, especially on a hot summer day. Having a water table is a great way for kids to get outside, use their imagination, play, and have fun!
They are a great addition to any backyard, childcare, or summer camp program for young children.
We at www.kidsplayandcreate.com researched water tables and spoke with parents to create a list of the best water tables for toddlers and kids. Here are our top picks.
Step 2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table
This is the water table my children, ages 1.5 and 5, play with.
They love this table and play with it for a couple of hours. It does require some assembly; it took me about 20-30 mins tops. I
One of the best parts of this water table is the two levels. The bottom level is where the water sits. The top level is full of holes. Toddlers can pour water on the top and watch it rain down.
My children love watching the water rain down. It is their favorite feature.
Another great feature was all the accessories that it comes with. It comes with one bucket, 2 cups to pour water, a water wheel, a fish and a frog that squirt water, a duck, one flipper to flip the frog and fish, a water scooper, and maze pieces you can rearrange and create different water mazes. I would recommend this product for ages 1.5-5.
Key Features:
- Two-level water table with rain shower effect
- It has many accessories, including a fish and frog that squirt water, a bucket, water scoopers, a flipper, a duck water wheel, and pieces to create a water maze.
- Easy to use and convenient drain plug
- Dimensions: 39x24x32 inches
- I recommend that children 1.5 – 5 years of age enjoy this table best.
Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Play Table
Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Play Table
This Little Tikes get an A+ from us with this cute, high-quality water table. I expect nothing less from Little Tikes. It is very sturdy yet lightweight,
weighing just under 12 pounds.
It has cool features that will keep the kids busy for hours. This water table has a drain plug underneath to drain water easily for easy cleanup. Great table for a childcare setting.
Features:
- It holds 7 gallons of water
- It comes with five squirt balls that squirt water and a water cup.
- Swirly funnel in the middle to drop balls
- Recommended ages 2-6 years
- Dimensions 29 x 29.5 x 31.5 inches
- Enough space for 3-4 children to play at the same time.
Step 2 Duck Pond Water Table
This duck pond-themed water table by Step 2 is adorable. What little kid doesn’t like ducks? This table will keep kids playing. It has two ducks, a slide for the ducks, a frog that squirts water, a frog launcher (kids’ favorite), and a water spinner. This table is sturdy and also lightweight, weighing just over 9 pounds.
It also comes with a drain plug to drain water easily after use.
Key Features:
- Duck Pond Theme (super cute)
- Frog launcher to launch ducks across the water.
- The frog that squirts water
- Water scoop
- Two small ducks (you can purchase more at a dollar store or Walmart)
- A slide for the ducks
- Spinner in the center to move the water around
- Recommended age 18mts-5 years.
- Dimensions 31.5 x 31.5 x
Step 2 Naturally Playful Sand and Water Table
Step 2 Naturally Sand and Water Table
This table is the best of both worlds as it combines a water table and a sand table. Kids love mixing sand and water! Half of the table holds water, while the other half holds sand. It includes a plastic cover, but only for the sand side to keep it clean.
It has eight accessories, including a 60-inch removable umbrella (great for hot days), two bridges, two boats, two pots, and one shovel. Another great feature is that the table’s legs are removable so you can use them at ground level.
It also comes with a drain plug for the waterside to drain the water easily after use.
Key Features
- Play with both water and sand (holds 20 pounds of sand not included)
- It comes with eight accessories (a removable umbrella, two bridges, two boats, two pots, and one shovel)
- Lid with elastic ties for the sand side.
- Drain plug for the waterside
- Removable legs to play with at ground level.
- Minimal assembly is required.
- Weight 27 pounds
- Dimensions 26 x 46.5 x 20.8 inches
Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship Outdoor Play Table
Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship Water Table
Ahoy Matey! We love this pirate-themed water table by Little Tikes. It’s super fun and great for imaginary play. The table resembles a fun pirate ship with a skull and crossbones flag.
It even has a cannon that kids can squirt water from. Kids can keep the water flowing by pouring it into the crow’s nest or using the pump.
The spinning features also help the water move throughout the table and help move floating objects around. Kids will love playing caption by spinning the wheel to raise and lower the anchor.
The pirate-themed table also comes with cute accessories. This table also has a drain plug underneath to drain the water easily after use.
Key Features
- The table has two pirates, one shark, a cannon, a plastic inter tube, scoopers, a bucket, and a skull and crossbones flag.
- Drain plug to easily drain water after use.
- Sturdy and lightweight (19.5 pounds)
- Dimensions 40 x 29 x 38 inches
- Great for ages 2-6
Step 2 Spill and Splash Seaway Water Table with Umbrella
Step 2 Spill and Splash Water Table
This is another great water table by Step 2. This two-tier water table comes with many features that will keep kids busy. This great table is the perfect size for toddlers. It can hold 7 gallons of water. The convenient drain plug makes it easy to drain water after use. The 42-inch umbrella will give the kids plenty of shade while playing on a hot day.
Key Features
- Send the swimmers for a deep-sea dive off the diving board or side flipper. It has a starfish spinner creating a whirlpool in the top activity pool!
- The convenient umbrella keeps kids protected from the sun.
- It holds 7 gallons of water
- Dimensions 25 x 43.25 x 22.5 inches
- the 11 pieces of accessories
- Recommended ages 18 months – 5
Step 2 Waterfall Discovery Play Set
Step2 Waterfall Discovery Wall Playset for Toddlers – Kids Outdoor Activity Water Splash Maze Toy with Accessory Set, Multicolor
This waterfall wall by Step 2 differs from the traditional water table. Instead of playing with water at a table, kids pour water at the top of this water wall and watch it come down a water maze.
The wall has different features, including spinners and funnels that can be moved around the wall. It’s different, and it’s fun. The kids will enjoy pouring the water, watching it come down in zig zags, and going through spinners and funnels.
The best part is after the kids watch the water come down, they can move the pieces around the wall and make a new maze. Your kids will turn into little engineers! The wall is double-sided so multiple children can play at once.
The bottom of the wall has a base that catches the water as it comes down, so children can reuse the same water while playing.
Key Features
- Cool Water Wall instead of traditional table
- It comes with 13 moveable accessories
- Lightweight 12 pounds but sturdy
- Dimensions 33.25 x 28 x 16.25 inches (not too tall for small children)
- Recommended ages 18mts – 5
Can you fill water tables with other things besides water?
I wouldn’t recommend it. I recommend only using water to make good use of your water table.
Most water tables come with a drain underneath to easily drain water. I wouldn’t recommend draining other objects; they may get stuck and ruin your table.
However, if you want to play with other things, I recommend getting a large plastic storage container, usually around $3.00, at Walmart (depending on size) and filling it for sensory play.
You can try to fill it with sand, rice, uncooked pasta, marbles, dirt, pebbles, or sea shells.
What is the best age to purchase a water table for your child?
Most water tables are recommended for children ages 18mts to 6. I’d say that children ages 2-5 will get the most use out of it and have the most fun. It’s a great toy to play with siblings.
They are fun for both boys and girls, and it will something they can enjoy together.
What are the benefits of having a water table?
Bordem Buster
Water tables help break that backyard boredom. Kids love playing with water and will enjoy splashing it around, especially on a hot day.
Water tables are fun to play with and are great for easy cleanup. Most water tables come with a drain underneath.
After the kids play, simply place all the toys on the table and drain the water.
I recommend getting a tarp to cover it if it doesn’t come with a cover.
Imaginary Play
Water tables are great for imaginary play.
Playing with water tables is a great way to build social skills by playing with other children; children will also learn to share and work together.
Water tables also help with hand-eye coordination. While playing with their water table, children will pick up or scoop small objects or water in a hole helping with coordination.
Water tables are great for an overall learning experience.
From learning how to share, figure out why water pours down from holes to spinning wheels, and watch what happens. Water tables are a great way for our children to have fun outside and learn.
What are some fun water table activities?
Besides the fun features of your water table, you can have hours of fun creating your own water table activities. Try some of these fun ideas.
Add dish soap to make super soapy water for fun sensory play.
Use Easter Eggs to scoop up water.
Build boats out of Legos.
Make cool ice sculptures for your table. Use ice cube trays or sand molds, fill them with water, add food coloring, and freeze them. Once they are frozen, place them in your water play and watch them melt.
Fill squeeze bottles with water and a little food coloring, and have the kids squeeze them into the water to make colorful designs.
Have a rubber ducky race. Place a rubber ducky for each child playing at one end of the table; using a water gun, spray bottle or squeeze bottle, squirt your duck to move it across the table. The first person to get their duck across the table wins.
Add water beads or Orbeez to the water. You can scoop them, pretend to cook, or just play with them for sensory play.
Make holes at the bottom of plastic cups. Scoop water in them from the water table and watch the water pour out.
Have fun with science while playing with the water table, and pick up various objects of various sizes. Place them in the water one at a time to find out if they sink or float. Talk to your child about the objects and why they sink or float.
