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By Kim Vij

Water Activities for Summer Fun with Kids!

Explore these fun and playful water activities with your child this summer. A collection of 25+ water activities, books, and toys for tons of summer fun for kids. There are so many benefits of water play!

A Collection of 25+ Water Activities for Kids. Includes water book suggestions and water toys too for your child this summer.
Water Activities for Summer Fun
  • Why Water Play is Important for Kids
  • 25+ Water Activities for Kids
  • Water Books for Kids
  • Water Toys for Kids on Amazon
  • Tips for Making Water Play Safe for Kids

Water Activities for Summer Fun

There’s just something that is ever so magical about playing with water with kids! Here are a few fun water activities that your child will LOVE plus they sneak in some learning too.

Why Water Play is Important for Kids

Water play is a fun and refreshing way for kids to cool off on a hot day, but it’s also good for their physical, cognitive, and social development.

Water games for Kids

Here are just a few of the benefits of water play for kids:

  • Water play helps kids stay cool and hydrated. When kids play in water, they sweat, which helps them cool down and stay hydrated. This is especially important during hot weather, when kids are more likely to become dehydrated.
  • Water play helps kids develop gross motor skills. Water play activities like splashing, jumping, and running help kids develop their gross motor skills. These skills are important for activities like running, jumping, and playing sports.
  • Water play helps kids develop fine motor skills. Water play activities like filling and dumping buckets, using water toys, and painting with water help kids develop their fine motor skills. These skills are important for activities like writing, drawing, and using tools.
  • Water play helps kids learn about cause and effect. When kids play in the water, they can experiment with different ways to make the water move. This helps them learn about cause and effect, which is an important cognitive skill.
  • Water play helps kids develop problem-solving skills. When kids play in the water, they often encounter challenges like how to get a water toy to float or how to build a dam. This helps them develop problem-solving skills, which are important for everyday life.
  • Water play helps kids socialize. Water play is a great way for kids to socialize with other kids. They can play together in the water, share water toys, and help each other with water activities. This helps them develop social skills like cooperation, sharing, and taking turns.

So next time it’s a hot day, take your kids to the pool, the beach, or even just the backyard sprinkler. They’ll have fun, and they’ll also be getting a lot of benefits for their physical, cognitive, and social development.

Child playing in water

25+ Water Activities for Kids

Here are our favorite Water Activities for Kids…

  • Water Table Themes and Activities
  • Rainbow Sea Shells
  • The Best Collection of Water Books for Kids
  • Learning About Land and Water with Maps
  • Pool Noodle Boat Races
  • Dory Letter Sensory Bag
  • Finding Dory Sight Word Sensory Bag
Drip drip drop outdoor water game
Water Table with Toys for Preschoolers and Toddler for summer fun
Boats made from pool noodles for a sight word game for kids
  • A  House for Hermit Crab Water Coloring 
  • 30+ Ocean Themed Activities
  • Water Math and Science Fun
  • Shark Teeth Hunting
  • Water Play Alphabet Activities
  • Alphabet Slap Water Game
  • Alphabet Soup Sensory Play
Paint Resist Toy Boat Art Project for Preschoolers
Water Lesson Plans for Toddlers
Playing with Water Beads
  • Boat Dot Art Painting
  • Water Week for Tot School
  • Using Water Beads to Build Imagination
  • Water Beads on Ice Science Fun
  • Skip Counting with Water Beads
  • Number Match Sensory Play
  • Number Spray and Water Dump
  • Water Balloon Math Game
Ice Science Experiments for kids
DIY Thermometer: A fun STEM Activity for Kids
Wet Sidewalk Chalk Painting
  • Painting with Ice Art Project
  • Wet Chalk Painting with Siblings
  • Water Balloon Painting
  • Alphabet Fish Bowl Game with Water
  • Learning How to Water the Garden
  • DIY Thermometer with Water
Summer Virtual Field Trips for kids. Explore Oceans, Beaches, Amusement Parks, Springs and more!
3 story aquirium at Frost Science Museum in Miami Florida with circular windows on 2nd floor.
Glass Bottom Boat Ride in Key Largo Florida with Key Largo Princess
  • Water Virtual Field Trips for Kids
  • Glass Bottom Boat Ride
  • Visiting an Aquarium with Kids
  • Water Activities at Science Museum
  • Learning How to Do Paddleboarding
  • Taking Kids to a Water Park

How will you explore the water with your child this week? 

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.

water playdate ideas for kids in moms group

Water Books for Kids

Kids and water are like magnets. Here are some fun children’s books that are all about water and swimming. For more water books, check out this collection of water books for kids!

Are you ready to dive into summer reading?

  • Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis
  • Water by Frank Asch
  • Drop: An Adventure through the Water Cycle by Emily Kate Moon
  • I Am Water (Scholastic Reader, Level 1) by Jean Marzollo
  • Bubbles . . . UP! by Jacqueline Davies
  • The Great Big Water Cycle Adventure by Kay Barnham
  • All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon
  • Water! Water! Water! by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
  • Leo Can Swim by Anna McQuinn
  • Pool Party by Amy Duchêne
  • Llama Llama Learns to Swim by Anna Dewdney
  • Daniel Learns to Swim (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood) by Alexandra Cassel Schwartz
  • Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London
  • Maisy Learns to Swim by Lucy Cousins
  • Peppa Goes Swimming by Scholastic
  • Curious George Goes Swimming by H. A. Rey
  • Dino-Swimming by Lisa Wheeler
  • Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
  • Rosie the Dragon and Charlie Make Waves by Lauren H. Kerstein
  • 1, 2, 3, Jump! by Lisl H. Detlefsen
  • Cannonball by Sacha Cotter
  • Together We Swim by Valerie Bolling
  • Summer Vacation, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg
  • I See Summer by Charles Ghigna
  • Mouse’s First Summer by Lauren Thompson
  • Over and Under the Waves by Kate Messner
  • Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
  • Ocean! Waves for All by Stacy McAnulty
  • Earth’s Incredible Oceans by Jess French
The best collection of Water Books for Kids.
MORE WATER BOOKS FOR KIDS

Water Toys for Kids on Amazon

I’ve found my favorite water toys for kids on Amazon for easy shopping for these warm months ahead. Take a look here at my storefront on Amazon.

Water Toys for Kids on Amazon
Water Slide at Volcano Bay at Universal Studios Resort in Orlando

Here are a few tips for making water play safe for kids:

  • Always supervise kids when they are playing in water.
  • Never leave a child unattended in a bathtub or swimming pool.
  • Make sure kids wear sunscreen when they are playing in the sun.
  • Teach kids water safety rules, such as how to swim and how to avoid drowning.
  • Have fun!

Here’s why we recommend that every child should take swimming lessons for water safety!

sunrise in vero beach. UNPLUGGING with your family to connect

Your child may also enjoy these activities…

Ocean Activities for Kids of All Ages
Summer Virtual Field Trips for kids. Explore Oceans, Beaches, Amusement Parks, Springs and more!
The Best Collection of Water Books for Kids!

Like this idea? Pin for later or share now with a friend!

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Filed Under: Kids Activities Tagged With: grade school, Ocean, Outdoor Fun, Preschool, Summer, toddlers, water

About Kim Vij

Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing developmentally appropriate activities.

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Early childhood teacher, author, speaker and mom of 3. Kim Vij shares ways to make learning fun and parenting an adventure by sharing all kinds of easy kid crafts, activities, recipes and even travel ideas for families!
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