Water tables are not cheap, a pain to store if like up you have short warm months, and for people in smaller houses, condos, and apartments, bulky even if they are being used. So this is an easy and fun way to play with water with simple toys and tools that can be used for other things as well. You can make this cheap water table for kids in minutes for only a few bucks. The bike helmet is optional.
- Gather your materials. You will need a plastic bin (I got this one in the dish rack aisle at Walmart for under $3, some fun beach type toys like this water mill which I love because it is so dynamic and was bought at Target for $1.99, then a turkey baster, a silly funnel and measuring cups from my kitchen. Also water!
- There aren’t many steps other than play outside, or place some towels down around it as well as have some handy if you are playing inside.
- For more fun add ice cubes and/or bath toys.
- If you are doing this outside after your child has had enough, water your plants, grass and flowers!
Books About Water
All book lists include affiliate links.
Who Sank the Boat? 
Big Red Tub
Water by Tara McClintick a preview can be read online here on memetales. The book is a wordless collection of photos of water proceeded by a poem about water. The photos include water in many different forms, a water fountain, pool, shower, a glass of water and more. I love that it shows how water is used for so many purposes, delivered in so many different ways but are is always wet. Great basic book!
Cindy says
Love the helmet! My son can spend hours playing in the water. Great idea to take it outside!
.-= Cindy´s last blog ..Download N Goâ„¢ Expedition Australia ~ Review =-.
admin says
It makes appearances from time to time 😉
Brook says
Thank-you for posting this great idea. I was about to go buy a big water table for my 3 boys, now they can each have their own!
admin says
Big ones are great too – but things you can pop in the dishwasher if you say leave it outside for 3 weeks and it’s mucky is unbelievably convenient.
Christianne @ Little Page Turners says
I was just thinking we needed something like this! Thanks for the inspiration. Any thoughts on making a water wall?
.-= Christianne @ Little Page Turners´s last blog ..Love My Library!!! =-.
welcome to our wonderland says
ours is one of those inflatable baby baths we got and never used, or we’ve used under the bed storage containers.
homemade sandbox under the bed storage container with lid! perfect for LO’s to play, lid to keep out bugs, cats and rain!
.-= welcome to our wonderland´s last blog ..Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann =-.
Melodie says
I love your blog for the reminders it gives me to do stuff! With all this nice weather I’d forgotten about he water table option. They’re all outside playing with one right now!
.-= Melodie´s last blog ..Do Nurses Learn about Breastfeeding in Nursing School? =-.
Maya (Memetales) says
We convert water activities into cleaning, watering plants and even bathing our doggie. So glad it is getting warm enough to get wet outside!
Thank you for featuring the book Water 🙂
admin says
You are welcome Maya ! Yes I know it’s been a long time coming for the PNW to have some nice weather!
Christine- I have never made a water wall, can you share with readers what it is?
Jackie Lee says
We have a water table but it’s been changed into a sand table. She has so much fun playing in the sand I think we’ll keep it filled with sand and try this for water. Thanks for solving yet another dilemma!
.-= Jackie Lee´s last blog ..What You Need to Know Before Writing Your Guest Post =-.
Cara says
Love the helmet! My son was wearing a firefighter hat for about 4 hours the other day. We’ve got a sand and water table, but I prefer to keep the water activities separate so the water doesn’t get mucked up by the sand. My son LOVES to play with water, and he can easily sit for hours pouring, washing, splashing. That water mill is really neat looking!
.-= Cara´s last blog ..Quiche Lorraine =-.
Wendy @Sun-Kissed says
http://wendyjanelle.blogspot.com/2010/05/water-table.html
Such a great idea! We just did it, and linked back to you. Thanks! Keep ’em coming. 🙂
.-= Wendy @Sun-Kissed´s last blog ..The Water Table =-.
vanessa @ silly eagle books says
This is so fun! We’re going to have to try it out–and I love the helmet, too!
.-= vanessa @ silly eagle books´s last blog ..last minute cheat sheet for dads: easy mother’s day crafts for preschoolers =-.
Jen says
I love this idea and very cost effective!
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Postcard Swap =-.
Shruti Goradia says
Thanks for the inspiration. I’d read this post and scored a water mill at the Christmas Tree Shop – my 17mnth old daughter is loving it.
.-= Shruti Goradia´s last blog ..Made me stop and look =-.
The Scrapbooking housewife says
My son just loves his water table, what a good idea to use a turkey baster though! Will have to rake around in my kitchen to see if I can find other fun stuff for him! 🙂
Kim @ The Educators Spin On It says
This is such a fun and simple way to create a water table for hours of fun! I just linked it up to our post about water fun with babies and toddlers. Thanks for sharing!