By the time you know it, the warm weather will be here. The sun will be shining down on you and you’ll be wondering which water toys for toddlers are the best. Well, look no further I’ll be sharing fun water toys for toddlers to play with this summer.
When those hot summer months come rolling in you’ll be happy to have these water toys around for your toddler. Whether you are at the beach, your house, or just in the backyard these water toys are sure to keep your child entertained for a while!
Not only will they be busy having so much fun, but it’ll also help your child’s development.
The Importance and Benefits of Water Play for Toddlers
Playing with water toys can provide several benefits for toddlers including:
- Developmental Skills: Water play helps toddlers develop fine motor skills by letting them practice pouring, scooping, splashing, and moving in water. These simple activities support muscles, improve hand-eye coordination and help toddlers learn to control their movements while having fun.
- Sensory Exploration: Water play encourages toddlers’ senses, helping them learn about different textures and temperatures.
- Physical Activity: Splashing and moving in water provide young children with physical exercise and promote overall health.
- Cognitive Development: Water play teaches toddlers about how things happen as a result of other actions, like watching water move and change when they play with it.
- Problem-Solving Skills: Water play shows toddlers challenges and opportunities to problem-solve, encouraging them to find creative solutions to obstacles they may encounter during play.
Safety Tips for Water Play With Toddlers
Here are some safety tips to consider when your toddler is playing with water toys:
- Supervision: Always supervise toddlers closely around water, even in shallow areas or bathtubs. This means being within arms reach of your child at all times.
- Consider Using a Life Jacket: If your toddler is playing around pools, beaches or lakes make sure your toddler wears a properly fitted life jacket.
- Teach Water Safety: Teach toddlers basic water safety rules, such as not running near pools and always asking for permission before entering the water.
- Stay in Designated Areas: Encourage toddlers to play only in designated water play areas and avoid deep water unless accompanied by an adult.
- Sun Protection: Apply sunscreen regularly before going outside, provide shade to prevent sunburns and overheating, and consider getting a sun hat like this one.
- Learn CPR: Parents and caregivers should learn CPR and basic water rescue skills in case of emergencies. Look online to find classes in your area! It will give you peace of mind.
By following these safety tips, you can help ensure that water play remains a fun experience for toddlers while minimizing the risk of accidents or injuries.
How to Choose the Right Water Toys for Your Toddler
Choosing the right water toys for your toddler involves considering several elements to confirm safety, enjoyment, and developmental benefits:
- Age Appropriateness: Select water toys that are suitable for your toddler’s age and developmental stage. Look for toys with age recommendations provided by the manufacturer.
- Safety Features: Choose water toys that meet safety standards and have no small parts that could pose a choking hazard. Ensure that inflatable toys are made from durable materials and have proper air valves.
- Educational Value: Opt for water toys that promote learning and skill development. Look for toys that encourage sensory exploration, problem-solving, and imaginative play.
- Versatility: Select water toys that offer versatility and multiple ways to play. Choose toys that can be used in various water environments, such as pools, bathtubs, or outdoor water tables.
- Durability: Invest in water toys that are durable and able to withstand rough play and exposure to water. Choose toys made from high-quality materials that are resistant to fading, mold, and mildew.
- Interactive Features: Look for water toys that your toddler finds exciting and fun. Choose toys with bright colors, cool textures, and parts that move, so it keeps your child interested.
By thinking about these things, you can pick safe water toys, just right for your toddler’s age, are lots of fun, make playtime even better, and help your child grow and learn.
Water Toys for Toddlers to Play With
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Yookidoo Stack N’ Spray Bathtub Toy
This bathtub stack toy has boats and figures that can stack, spin, spray, sprinkle, swivel, and squirt. You know your little kiddo is going to have fun playing this! It’s also great for developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Bath Book Set of 12
Not exactly a bath play set, but these bath books are perfect for little ones. The different colors and waterproof features make them amazing. Your toddler will enjoy looking at them during baths or by the pool.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about water damaging the books. They’re perfect for little hands and can help your toddler practice object identification while having fun.
No Hole Mold-Free Bathtub Toys
This toy comes with a net that your little one can use to scoop up the toys, and it also includes a mesh bag for storage. The best part is it can be used at the pool too.
Bunmo Textured Suction Toy
These textured suction toys are great for bath time or any time your younger kid wants to play with them. They’re easy for your toddler to grasp and have vibrant colors.
But the best part about this is there are no holes in them meaning you won’t be dealing with mold inside of these toys. That’s a big plus!
Water Toys for Toddlers for Outdoor Play
Beach Toys
A simple beach toy is a great choice for young kids. This set comes with a bucket, shovel, and rake, all of which are great for the pool or bathtub too. These simple sand toys are going to be a big hit for the younger kids.
The animals in this set come with small holes that mimic rainfall if you were to use them as a bath toy. You know this is something your little one is going to find fascinating.
Pool Floats
This pool float is great for the younger kids. This one comes with a canopy to keep the sun away and you can also strap in your toddler in multiple ways. The best part is it’s easy to install.
Of course with everything else please supervise your child whenever they are near or in water.
Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Play Table
This water table is a good choice for toddlers as it helps them improve their fine motor skills. It’s also great for independent play and will provide hours of fun. This comes with balls that can be dropped in the spiral and you can also turn the Ferris wheel to scoop up the balls that were dropped in. If you have more than one child this will be a perfect way to keep them busy.
Anytime you can have some quiet time as a parent is a win!
Water Balloons
Water balloons are always a big hit with the younger kids and even more for the older kids in your life. We love Bunch O Balloons.
You can put these in a kiddie pool for a great sensory play as well. Or simply fill them up and have them toss them around.
BONUS TIP: draw a target on the ground with chalk and have your toddler practice hitting the target. This will help them with gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Please make sure to supervise your younger kids while playing with these water balloons as they can be a choking hazard.
Squirt Toys / Water Guns
Water guns are another great way of improving their hand-eye coordination. What better way to have your toddler cool down on those hot summer days than by playing with one of these?
Here is one option to look at and another one. Lastly, here are some things your toddler can play while using water squirters:
- Target Practice: Set up targets, such as cups or cans, and have your toddler aim and squirt water at them to knock them down.
- Water Tag: Your toddler can take turns squirting each other with water guns while trying to avoid getting wet themselves.
- Create Water Art: Give your toddler a large surface like a sidewalk or fence and let them use their water guns to “paint” with water.
Splash Pad
This splash pad will bring lots of fun on those sunny days for your toddler. The water level isn’t high at all either so that gives you a little peace of mind. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be vigilant or be within arms reach in case something were to happen. Your little one can cool down while also learning the ABCs.
Kitchen Play Sink
This kitchen playset has many exciting parts that your child will love, from water coming down from the faucet to a fishing pole for catching fish. You know your little one will happily play with this set for a good amount of time.
Children enjoy imitating what they see, so giving them their little kitchen playset will encourage imaginative play.
This can be played indoors or outdoors and it would make a great gift for any toddler.
Inflatable Jungle Kiddie Pool
This kiddie pool is an excellent option for toddlers because it offers different activities such as a slide and a ring toss game. It includes a built-in sprayer. It’s also spacious too, making it ideal for more than one child. Just connect the garden hose and you are ready for some fun!
Sprinkler Toys
A sprinkler is such a fun toy for young kids and older kiddos alike. On a hot day bringing out a sprinkler is going to be a big hit with everyone.
Alternatively, you can also use a regular sprinkler like this one. In my opinion, this is probably the best one out there.
I know it might be a tad ridiculous, but your kid will have so much fun with this simple yard tool.
Final Thoughts On The Best Water Toys For Toddlers
To bring it all together, water toys for toddlers make playtime a blast while helping them learn and grow. Whether it’s in a pool, with water guns, or at a water table, these toys offer loads of fun and learning. So, let your little ones splash away and make the most of their water play experience.
More than anything else make sure they are having fun and are safe while playing with their water toys this coming summer.
If you found this helpful feel free to share this with your friends or save this to refer back to. Let me know how you beat the heat with your toddlers. Also which water toys for toddlers are you going to try out?
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