Widening the Water Table Experience

DSC00003 (4)A water table is a wonderful thing.  Water play is an amazing thing (see my post on water play for more information) and while a water table is not necessary for good water play, it is a great thing to have around because it can be used for many, many, many other things other than water (of course any large container can be used as well!)

You can put almost ANYTHING in a water table for kids to explore and play with including (of course you need to keep in mind the age and habits of your children.  Young children need to be watched closely when exploring small and/or non-food items and the best way to keep an eye on things is to get in there and play yourself!):

  1. Sand
  2. Oatmeal
  3. Rice
  4. Dirt
  5. Pumpkin or Squash Guts
  6. Watermelon (or other melons)
  7. Snow or Ice
  8. Leaves
  9. Flowers
  10. Newspaper
  11. Tissue paper or streamers (DON’T mix with water, the color will bleed and stain!!!)
  12. Pattern Paper
  13. Hay
  14. Animals
  15. Batting/Stuffing
  16. Cornstarch
  17. Pasta (raw or cooked)
  18. Beans
  19. Shaving Cream or Whipped Cream
  20. Unpopped or popped corn
  21. Grass (real or fake)
  22. Packing Peanuts
  23. Pom Pons
  24. Pipe cleaners
  25. Ribbons/String/Yarn
  26. Toilet Paper
  27. Clean Mud (recipe)
  28. Soap/Bubbles
  29. Paint
  30. Cereal
  31. Ping Pong Balls
  32. Pebbles or River rocks
  33. Mulch
  34. Buttons
  35. Marbles (round or flat)
  36. Legos
  37. Fabric Scraps
  38. Applesauce
  39. Foam blocks or pieces
  40. Beads
  41. Pencil or Crayon Shavings
  42. Marker, bottle or small jar lids
  43. Rhinestones/Gems
  44. Feathers
  45. Candy Wrappers
  46. Jell-o
  47. Easter Eggs
  48. Seaweed (dry or wet)
  49. Birdseed or Grains
  50. Sawdust