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The Best Water Tables For Kids
Summertime in a childâs mind means playing outside and getting wet. But not all parents have the time or the resources for last-minute trips to the beach or local community pool. Your kid wonât be entertained by a sprinkler for very long. So why not check our top picks for the best water tables for kids? Theyâre a much better alternative to letting your children play virtual games inside.
What is a water table for kids? This unique water toy can keep your toddler stay cool on a hot day, all while having tons of fun. Itâs a small play area that can develop your childâs creative thinking and motor skills. Add a couple of playmates to the mix, and he or she will also develop social skills through cooperative play.
These water tables for kids can range from simple setups to more elaborate ones. Youâll have to take your childâs interests into account when choosing the one you should get.
The 8 Water Tables For Kids 2023
Best Overall: Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table With Umbrella Review
If youâre looking for a no-fail water play table, you canât go wrong with this one. It has two tiers, which makes it spacious enough to accommodate multiple kids. This water table for kids is great if youâre expecting a lot of playdates for the summer.
The upper-tier trickles down to the lower one through a cute waterfall when filled up. Thereâs a starfish spinner that creates a whirlpool. Kids can use the diving board and flipper to send swimmers off for deep-sea exploration. Oh, and thereâs also an umbrella to protect the kids from the sun.
Why We Like It
- Two big tubs
- Single water feature
- Swirling effect
- 11-piece accessory set including scoops
For Nature-lovers: Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table Review
Most parents wonât be thrilled with the idea of letting their kids play in a natural pond. The workaround? A pond-themed toddler water table for kids.
The best thing about this water table for kids is its rain shower feature. Using the large bucket thatâs included in the 13-piece accessory pack, kids can pour aqua into the top tier to create a rainfall effect.
There are two spinners to keep the aqua moving and propel the cute little figures (duck, frog, and fish) around. Thereâs also an attachable umbrella that provides shade. An added precaution after layers of sunblock canât hurt.
The Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond is the next best thing to playing in a natural pond. Your kid will be happy to have such a water table!
Why We Like It
- Large bucket
- Maze-like layout
- Drain plug for easy cleanup
- Squirt toys
For Dinosaur Lovers: Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table Review
Think youâve got a budding archeologist at home? Fuel your childâs love for dinosaurs and digging with this unique sand and water table for kids. It has a volcano that mimics an eruption as you pour aqua on top of it. This water toy will turn sandbox kids into water table kids in a snap.
Kids can make the dinosaur figures frolic and refresh themselves in the lower watering hole. Thereâs also a palm tree where their Jurassic friends can hang out under the shade. Remove Ash Mountain, and youâve got a mini sandpit where kids can dig and build sand sculptures of their own!
Why We Like It
- Separate sand and water areas
- Water eruption
- Shovel-rake and sand scoops
- Large enough for multiple kids
For Pirate Parties: Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship Review
If your kids fancy themselves as buckos and buccaneers, this is the best water table for kids for them. The entire table is shaped like a ship. Its best feature is the water cannon, which acts as a mild squirt gun.
Thereâs a pump to keep the water moving. To activate it, the kids have to pour aqua into the crowâs nest of the ship. There are several moving parts including an anchor which they can hoist up and down with a crank. The steering wheel spins too!
There are two pirate figures, and a shark to make walking the plank more exciting. A skull and crossbones flag (not cloth) completes the look of the ship. This water table for kids will get your little pirates saying aye.
The Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship has plenty of interactive features to keep wannabe pirates entertained for hours on end.
Pros
- Water sprayer
- Multiple moving parts
- Simulated current
- Toys for role-playing and stories
Cons
- Assembly required
- A bit pricey but worth it for its features
For Nautical Nuts: Step2 Fiesta Cruise Sand & Water Table Review
Maybe youâve got more of a luxury cruise ship kind of kid on your hands. Well, this is another water and sand table to keep your little vacationers happy. For a sand water table for kids, this oneâs pretty decked out.
Just like the kind of cruise ship grandma would go on, this oneâs got a pool, complete with a springboard and water slide. If the little figures get bored swimming around, they can comb for shells or make sandcastles in the nearby beachside cove. The separate compartment can hold up to 40 lbs. of sand. For a water table with an umbrella, this is as posh as it can get.
Pros
- Dual-sided
- Comes with a lid
- Mini waterfall
- Spiral feature
Cons
- No predrilled holes
- Umbrella stands a little low
For Unicorn Fiends: Step2 Rain Shower & Unicorns Water Table Review
Unicorns are the most magical mythical creatures in our book. Itâs no wonder why kids go gaga over them. Is your precious little one obsessed with all things Unicorn-related? Then for a water table for kids, this is the one to get.
Kids can mimic real rainfall with its special upper shower tray. They can watch the pretty droplets drizzle down the mystical unicorn pond. Thereâs a flipper where they can launch their unicorn figures. All the accessories and the table itself are colored in soft pastels. Magical times await the lucky tykes who are gifted this enchanting water table for kids.
The Step2 Rain Shower & Unicorns Water Table is the ideal play area for kids who love unicorns and charming pastel colors.
Pros
- STEM learning emphasis
- Drain plug
- Maze-like layout
- Large bucket
Cons
- Assembly required
- Have to dry off figures regularly to prevent mold formation
For Motor Skill Development: Little Tikes Spiralinâ Seas Waterpark Play Table Review
Out of all the water tables for kids on this list, weâd say this one is the most educational. If youâre looking for a water table for kids that will keep your tot fully engaged, this one canât be beaten.
Watch your child figure out the âput and takeâ concept and simple mechanisms like spirals, wheels, and gears. They can turn a crank to make the Ferris Wheel pick up and drop off âpassengersâ in the form of cute character balls. The spiral in the middle can send the balls spinning down into the lazy river.
The character balls also double as squirt toys. With a 7-gallon aqua capacity, this water table for kids can keep 2 or 3 toddlers entertained for an entire afternoon of splashy fun.
Letting your kid play on the Little Tikes Spiralinâ Seas Waterpark Play Table is a great way to improve his or her motor skills. Itâs loaded with features that you canât find on other water tables.
Pros
- Improves kidsâ motor skills
- Unique water park features
- STEM learning emphasis
- Comes with 1 water cup
Cons
- Assembly required, but easy to do
For Future Fishermen: Little Tikes Fish ân Splash Water Table Review
Maybe your kid is too young to go along on daddyâs fishing trips. Why not introduce him or her to the concept of fishing with this fun Little Tikes water table for kids? The design of this water toy is pretty interesting.
Thereâs a fishing pole that you can catch five critters with. The kids load up a fishbowl, which tips over when filled. When the fish are released back into the pool, they make a fun wave.
Thereâs also a lily pad that they can use a launcher for the sea critters. While one kid is using the rod, the other can occupy him or herself with a cute fishing net.
The Little Tikes Fish ân Splash Water Table teaches kids cause and effect. It will also take up a lot of their concentration.
Pros
- Encourages counting
- Movable parts
- Fishing accessories
- Durable
Cons
- Assembly required, but minimal
Buyerâs Guide: Choosing the Best Water Table For Kids
Things to Consider
The first thing you should consider when choosing a water table is safety. Make sure itâs made of non-toxic materials that are durable enough to withstand rough play. Second, check to see if it has enough features to keep your child engaged in play. The most imaginative children donât need all the bells and whistles to stay occupied.
As illustrated above, water table kids come in different themes and configurations. You have to match one to your child based on his or her aptitudes and interests. Do you have a girly girl? Take a gander at the best toys for 2 year old girl.
Unique Features
A good water table for kids should have one or two unique features like a water wheel or a whirlpool spinner. Aside from being able to carry lots of aqua and sand, you should also look out for movable parts that can keep your tot occupied.
Price
As with all things, you get you to pay for when it comes to a water table for kids. The more expensive options are most likely going to be made from sturdier materials. When it comes to your childâs playthings, it canât hurt to invest in ones that are properly designed and manufactured.
Water Table For Kids Types
Sand and Water Table
This type of water table for kids also incorporates a sandpit. Theyâre usually segmented and mimics the layout of a beach or cove. A water and sand table puts the two elements into play. A sand water table is best used outdoors because it can create quite the mess.
Water Table
Aside from a water and sand table, thereâs also one thatâs purely meant for aqua. These usually come with water toys for kids, including squirting figures, tools, and simple mechanisms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does the Water Table Do?
Water tables are great play areas for toddlers because they help develop motor skills, creative thinking, and social abilities. They come with varied features that you can match with your childâs interests. If your kid is more of the artsy type, take a look at the best baby activity table.
What Age is a Water Table for?
Water tables for kids are for ages 1-5. For other stuff your 1-5-year-old can do, check out the best educational toys for toddlers.
How Does Sand and Water Play Help a Childâs Development?
Playing with aqua and sand helps kids familiarize themselves with actions like digging, pouring, splashing, building, and scooping. As theyâre having fun, theyâre developing their muscles and motor skills at the same time. It also taps into the mathematical part of the brain that processes measurements and mechanisms. They also get exposed to natural elements, which make them more aware of the environment. Plus, if they play with other kids, they learn how to share and socialize properly.
Our Recommendation for 2023 - Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table
If you still donât know which one to get, you can go wrong with Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table. Itâs spacious, has a cute waterfall, and a starfish spinner. Two or three toddlers can splash away on this thing for hours without getting bored as it comes with many accessories.
If your child has specific interests, weâre sure we have one that matches them in our search for the best water table for kids 2023. Whether itâs a sand water table or a regular water one, the best choice is here on our list. Have your kids enjoyed any one of our top picks? Share your experiences below. For more toddler toy suggestions, make sure to visit parenthoodroutine.com.
Contents
- 1 The 8 Water Tables For Kids 2023
- 1.1 Best Overall: Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table With Umbrella Review
- 1.2 For Nature-lovers: Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table Review
- 1.3 For Dinosaur Lovers: Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table Review
- 1.4 For Pirate Parties: Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship Review
- 1.5 For Nautical Nuts: Step2 Fiesta Cruise Sand & Water Table Review
- 1.6 For Unicorn Fiends: Step2 Rain Shower & Unicorns Water Table Review
- 1.7 For Motor Skill Development: Little Tikes Spiralinâ Seas Waterpark Play Table Review
- 1.8 For Future Fishermen: Little Tikes Fish ân Splash Water Table Review
- 2 Buyerâs Guide: Choosing the Best Water Table For Kids
- 3 Frequently Asked Questions
- 4 Our Recommendation for 2023 - Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table
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