Enjoying bath time can be hit or miss, but playing with water is a fun activity for most children. Water play is a sensory activity, allowing children to learn through their senses, which can also be a calming process for some children. Water play has a number of opportunities for learning, such as math (learning about volume), science (learning about physics concepts like motion and flowing water, as well as making predictions about whether or not objects will float), language development (learning new vocabulary and playing pretend), and creativity (playing with open-ended materials).
Find More Ways to Play!
- Watch PBS KIDS shows on the PBS KIDS Video app.
- Play games for summer on the PBS KIDS website.
- Download and print activities about routines for PreK-K and grades 1-2.
Summer of Adventure
Explore and play all summer long with a variety of free resources from PBS KIDS. Spark curiosity and creativity with hands-on activities and games supporting literacy, math, science, and fun.
You can easily set up a water play area for your child with just a few things from around your home:
- Set up a safe area at the sink, table, or floor
- Gather a mix of different-sized containers: bowls, buckets, food containers, etc.
- Find some tools as well: spoons, cups, bottles, measuring cups, toys/objects that float, toys/objects that sink, sponges, etc.
- Then play!
Water Play Activities
Experiment With Walking Water
This fun science activity introduces basic concepts of physics and gravity.
Build a Dam and Explore Water Flow
35 min activityArt and science come together for this fun project! Enjoy hours of learning through water play while building a model river. Observe what happens when objects change or block the flow of the water.
Experiment With Water Drops
15 min activityTry this simple hands-on science experiment to explore how water droplets can form different shapes. .
Make Glowing Water
Learn about bioluminescence in nature by creating "glowing water."
Float DIY Water Bottle Boats
Make mini boats to float or race with recycled water bottles.
Build an Aqueduct
30 min activityFind out how to build a homemade aqueduct using cereal boxes and other recyclable materials.
Learn About Measurements With Water Play
30 min activityDo you know how many quarts are in a gallon or how many cups are in a quart? Learning how to measure liquids can be fun!
Investigate How Objects Sink or Float in Different Types of Water
15 min activityTogether with your child, observe differences between saltwater, freshwater, and water with baking soda. Try this investigation to explore how salt and baking soda affect how things sink or float in water.
Discover Pitch With a Water Xylophone
10 min activityInvestigate ways to create different pitch, tones, and sounds by creating your own glass bottle water xylophone.
Activities With Ice
Ice Science Experiment: What Makes Ice Melt Fastest?
This cool science experiment shows how different variables impact how quickly ice melts.
Make an Ice Sculpture
25 min activityObserve how temperature affects water as you create a frozen ice sculpture.
Frozen Chalk Paint
Create some cool art on a hot day with this easy-to-make frozen chalk paint!
What Makes the Sea Rise?
60 min activityTry this experiment with your child to investigate how melting glaciers can cause the sea level to rise and change the Earth's landscape.
Observing Ice
Transform a liquid into a solid (and vice versa) with this colorfully cold experiment.
Sink or Float? The Ice Block Science Experiment
Get your child thinking about why some things float and some sink with this easy activity that freezes toys into an ice block.