Ways to Play and Learn with Water Outdoors

These creative ways to play and learn with water outdoors are sure to delight kids of all ages! When the weather starts to warm up, you’ll want to refer to this list to keep cool and have lots of ideas for good clean fun on-hand.   

Here are 10 of our favorite ways to play with water outdoors!!

Ways to Play with Water Outdoors

1. Sponge Bombs

If you are on water restrictions, or are looking for a mess-free alternative to water balloons that can be used over and over again, try making your own sponge bombs! Here’s a short video tutorial explaining how to make them. Dunk them in water, and use for a bucket toss game for plenty of water play fun!

2. Water Pistol Target Range

All you need are some paper cups, and a water pistol or spray bottle!

3. Water Fun with a Marble Run

Here are three ways kids can learn about water with a marble run.

4. Break out the sprinklers!

My kids adore this one from Melissa and Doug, and it has withstood the test of time for the last two Summers.

5. Make a Rainbow

Sneak in a quick science lesson about the light refractive properties of water and make your own rainbow with the garden hose and fine mist spray nozzle.

6. Pretend Laundry Day

One of Emily’s favorite Summertime activities is pretending to do the laundry — a fun water play activity and life-skills lesson all in one!

7. Paint with Ice

If you have some paint-with-water books, try having the kids paint with ice instead!

8. Design a Mini Water Park

Fill a round sled with water, add your favorite toy boats, and create pools, water slides, and parades in your own miniature world!

9. Potion Lab

A few plastic bottles, water, and a bit of food coloring is all you need for hours of mixing and pouring playing fun!

10. Explore Water’s Three States of Matter

Combine an exploration of water with a simple science lesson.

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