I love to set up water play and other sensory play for my kids. It can get a little messy but it’s an activity that always engages my kids for long periods, they will often all happily play together and it seems to calm fractious nerves, so it is worth a little mess.
We don’t have a fancy water table to use for sensory play. I’ve looked at some lovely commercially made water tables and even some great DIY ideas, but we really don’t have the space for a large water table inside so always decide not to spend the time, effort or money. Instead we use a variety of cheap, easy to find, containers for sensory play that are moveable and very versatile.
You don’t need a fancy, expensive water table when there are so many other great options.
Here are our five favourite alternatives to water tables:
A Large Mixing Bowl.
You probably already have a large plastic or metal mixing bowl in your cupboard, well they are perfect for setting up an individual play space.
Just the right size for a frog in a pond or enough slime for one.
An Under Bed Storage Container.
When everyone wants to get in on the action and we need big container for water or sand or any other sensory play, we use a large, plastic, under bed storage container.
These are great because they are big, but not too high, so you can sit them on top of a table and even little kids can still reach in to play with the contents. There is enough room for all four of my kids to crown around and play and they also come with a lid, so saving the sensory play for another day is as easy as clipping on the lid!
Small Plastic Tubs
Sometimes two want to play, but they have trouble sharing their space. This was the story of my life when my twin were smaller so I bought two cheap plastic tubs from our local dollar store to use for sensory play. With two tubs I can set up some water play side by side so they can both play together but they don’t have to share.
It still works today as my three year old doesn’t like it when someone else washes all his socks and hangs them on the line!
A Selection of Recycled Containers.
It doesn’t get easier, or cheaper, than three recycled ice-cream containers attached to each other with bull dog clips. This is a simple idea that offers a different set up for sensory play, perfect for animal habitats, or mixing different substances.
There is lots of fun to be had by moving things from one container to the next.
A Cutlery Tray.
We got this big cutlery tray from Ikea and with all the different sections it is so much fun to use for sensory play. It’s great for combining lots of different sensory mediums.
With a nice white backdrop it is perfect for a spot of colour mixing too.
All of these alternatives to a water table were inexpensive and easy to find. While a proper water table would be great, these options work well for us and have provided my kids with hours of sensory play fun!
Such cool ideas! My boy loves water, I like the mixing bowl turned into a frog pond, you could do that anywhere
We used to use our old plastic ‘baby bath’ for outdoor water/messy play. It worked quite well for my two girls to both access the fun!
That’s a great idea! Now I know what to do with the baby bath taking up space in my garage!
In preschool weve found our favorite sand or water play container to be a simple small hard-plastic kids pool. Easy access for several kids-more kids=bigger sized pool.
We also use these pools for ball-pits, sand table, and a safe place for infants to play outside.
We actually have a water table but I find it easy to use the little tubs too. I’ve never used a cutlery tray though. What a fab idea.
It’s amazing just how absorbed kids get in this kind of activity. I don’t remember any proper “set ups” from when I was a kid myself but I remember playing in puddles for ages which is kind of the same thing only even more messy. My 4 year old loves to fill the sink in the bathroom with water, bubbles and toys herself and use that at random times whenever she feels like some water play.
I was wondering this very thing the other day. Thanks for the great ideas. Also, where do you get the little plastic eye droplets for colour mixing? Thanks
I had been looking for the eye droppers for ages and then found them really cheaply at Riot art and craft stores… which will only be helpful if you are an Aussie and have Riot stores where you live!
Great post thanks Kate! It’s true, you don’t need to spend a fortune on fancy water tables. I love all your great suggestions. I might get out of cutlery tray for some water play tomorrow. Great way to give it a good clean.
Some great ideas Kate and just enough warm weather here at the moment to enjoy them! I’ve long looked at those cutlery trays in IKEA thinking they’d be good for something but never thought of using them as a water tray.
This is just great, thanks!
I particularly liked the bulldog-clip plan and the white cutlery tray for coloured water.
Thanks for the help! :)
I love your ideas! Especially the one with the clips and the color mixing table! We usually use the sink and it generally gets messy as well but nothing too horrible. Now, I’ve actually made “sand tables” out of plastic shoe boxes with lids to keep sand or rice as well as “tools” to play with safely inside. Thanks for sharing!
I use an under the bed container for homemade moon sand. 8 cups flour mixed with 1 cup baby oil. Loads of fun.
A cookie sheet is great for water and corn starch. You don’t need much of either for dragging your fingers thru.
These are such great ideas. My mom actually offered to get my kids a formal water table for Christmas, but like you, the idea of storing the big contraption steered me away. These ideas are much more manageable… And really even more flexible!!! Thanks again.