Before you unleash the hose for a mid-afternoon backyard splash-down, check out our collection of eco-friendly kids’ water play activities that’ll keep both the planet and your little water warriors happy. These sustainable outdoor water games are a timely lifesaver. Not only do they bring hours of laughter and fun in the sun, but they also teach your little ones the priceless lesson of looking after our blue planet.
With the calendar turning from May to June comes the anticipation of lazy, hazy afternoons filled with runs through the sprinkler and the smell of sunscreen wafting through the air. Popsicle weather is the surest signal that it’s time to get out the hose and prep for a day of backyard water fun!
Unfortunately, the last few summers have left many parts of the county high and DRY – literally. Even here in Minnesota (land of 10,000 lakes!), we were under water restrictions for most of July and August last year.
With most of the West already experiencing extreme drought conditions this spring, we wanted to share some water play ideas that help conserve water while letting kids enjoy one of summer break’s most iconic features. So we’ve put together this list of more sustainable water games and play ideas.
Each activity below either uses less water or allows for the reuse of water after play. Above all, they’re just good, old-fashioned ways to beat the heat through a bit of summer water play fun!
For outdoor summer entertainment beyond water games, visit our collection of over 100 backyard play activities, find a kids beach play activity, and take our free printable beach scavenger hunt to the shore, or go on a backyard safari!
Tabletop Water Play Activities for Kids
These tabletop water play activities work well for use with younger kids or on days when you don’t want to be wet from head to toe. Save the tub or bucket of leftover water for watering gardens – better yet, invest in a rain barrel you can toss the leftover water into after play!
A Soam Foam Sensory Bin
For a bubbly good time (that’s also the easiest clean-up ever) try setting up a soap foam sensory bin. Just whip up some eco-friendly soap foam, toss in a couple of waterproof toys, and voila – you’ve got an engaging, touchy-feely water toddler water play activity that will keep your toddler amused for hours, and leaves nothing behind but a little soap suds.
After your toddler has finished splashing in the soap foam sensory bin, that sudsy water is perfect for giving outdoor toys a quick clean. Just rinse them off, let them dry in the sun, and they’re good to go for the next round of playtime.
A Summer Lemon Sensory Bin
Because nothing says summer like that fresh lemon smell, make a summer lemon sensory bin. Fill a tub with water, and a couple of fresh lemons, and let the citrusy fun begin. It’s a sensory delight that also helps your little ones explore the natural fragrances of summer.
After play, combine it with a little baking soda and white vinegar and use it to clean your disposal or toilet bowl. Or put it on the stove and bring it to a boil for a natural air freshener that will have the whole house smelling like summer.
An Ocean Sensory Bin
An ocean sensory bin (complete with DIY moon sand) is a great way to spend a day at the beach right in your own backyard. Kids can dive their hands into the salty water and cool sand, explore different textures, and let their imaginations sail away on the high seas.
The water from the ocean sensory bin can be used to water your garden or lawn. The DIY moon sand will settle at the bottom, and the clear water on top can be easily poured out. Remember, your plants love playtime too!
Paint Rocks With Water
Remember the simple joy of skipping stones across the pond? Well, here is a mini, eco-friendly variation on that summer classic: Grab a small bowl of water and a handful of rocks for rock painting and washing. It’s a great way to foster creativity while developing fine motor skills – and pebbles have never looked prettier!
The water left over from rock painting and washing can be used to rinse off your garden tools or your muddy boots. It’s a simple and effective way to keep your gardening gear clean and ready for your next green thumb adventure.
A Color Mixing Water Play Activity
Do you have a mini Picasso on your hands? Color mixing with water lets your child explore the magic of colors while honing their fine motor skills. Just add a few drops of eco-friendly, water-based paint to different water-filled containers and watch as your child creates a rainbow.
Post-color mixing, reuse the beautifully tinted water to watercolor paint some paper. It’s a fun, eco-friendly way to make art while also repurposing that colorful water.
Ice Escape Water Play
On a hot day, there’s nothing cooler than an ice escape. Freeze some of their favorite mini toys in ice cubes and watch as your child delights in rescuing them. It’s a fun, cooling activity that also teaches patience and problem-solving skills.
When the ice escape is all done, don’t throw out that melted ice water! Use it to water your houseplants. They’ll appreciate the cool drink, and you’ll appreciate the zero waste.
Ice Painting
This Ice painting activity creates cool, colorful works of art that utilize the melting power of warmth and ice. Create frozen paint cubes and let them melt over paper to create beautiful, flowing art.
After a fun day of ice painting, you can use the leftover colored water to experiment with dying old clothes or dishcloths. Make some tie-dye shirts, or brighten up old rags for cleaning.
An Animal Washing Station
Little pet lovers will adore this animal washing station activity! Let your child splash around while also learning some practical life skills. A basin of water, a sponge, and some dirty toy animals – it’s a fun, interactive way to learn about cleaning and care.
After a session at the animal washing station, the water can be reused to clean your outdoor furniture or deck. Just grab a scrub brush and use the leftover water to freshen up your outdoor space.
Floating Sponge Boats
A little water goes a long way when using these cute bobbing sponge boats. They’re easy to make and perfect for both outdoor play and bath time. Just set them afloat and let the naval adventure begin.
The water from your sponge boat adventure can go straight to your vegetable garden or compost pile if you have one. The water will help speed up the composting process and make your garden even greener.
Pouring Pearls Kids Water Activity
One of the coolest water games I’ve seen – you’ve GOT to check out this amazing pouring pearls water activity! it’s a mesmerizing, sensory-filled experience that involves pouring water with homemade water beads through a series of easy DIY tubes. It’s a sight to behold and an activity your kiddos will beg to play again and again.
Once the pouring pearls water activity is done, that water-bead-filled water can be used to water your plants. The water beads will slowly release water, providing a longer-lasting source of hydration for your plants.
Backyard Water Games That Don’t Waste Water
From a full-body soaking to STEAM-powered activities that don’t require getting wet at all, these backyard kids’ water games are a cool way to cool off while conserving…
Spray Bottle Freeze Tag
Spray bottle freeze tag takes the timeless joy of a water balloon fight and dials it down to a low water-use alternative. Let your kids loose giggling and darting around the yard with water spray bottles, getting each other just wet enough to cool down and marking the “frozen” players. It’s a great way to run off energy and stay refreshed with minimal water usage.
DIY Water Balloons
And speaking of water balloons, forget those single-use water balloons that litter the lawn and wastewater. Instead, consider reusable water balloons. These fun, spongy balls can be soaked and thrown just like a regular water balloon, but they can be used again and again. Or for the crafty folks, whip up your own DIY water balloons for an afternoon of splashy fun.
A Sponge Toss Water Game
Better yet, repurpose old sponges to quickly make your own sponge bombs & sponge toss water game. If you’ve got a bunch of old sponges lying around, why not give them a new lease of life? Simply cut them into strips, tie them together, and you’ve got a soft, splashy alternative to water balloons. You can even use them for a sponge toss water game – just aim, throw, and SPLASH!
Water Cup Racing
Who’s up for a little friendly competition? Grab the squirt guns and set up a fun water cup racing game. Line up cups on a string and see who can squirt their cup across the finish line first. It’s a high-energy, low-water-use activity that’s sure to be a hit.
Foil River Water Races
For the future engineers and sailors in your family, Make a foil river or host a rain gutter regatta. Just shape a piece of foil into a river or use an old rain gutter, fill it with a little water, and set sail to homemade boats. It’s an imaginative, eco-friendly way to have a boat race right in your backyard.
It’s full STEAM ahead with this free-standing water wall that uses tubes, funnels, and buckets to recycle water for fun summer play. Kids can pour water into the top and watch as it travels down through the different paths, learning about gravity, flow, and recycling in the process. It’s education and entertainment all rolled into one eco-friendly package!
And don’t sleep on the very best summer water source of all…rain! Put those drops to good play use when you get them! Splash in the puddles, make a rain garden, or take advantage of the weather with a DIY mud kitchen.
More Outdoor Summer Kids Activities
For more kids’ outdoor activity ideas, get out in the garden, grab a free printable bug scavenger hunt to take to a park, or make a DIY nature explorer kit for neighborhood adventures.
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I love seeing all the ways people make these ideas their own! If you're sharing the results of one of our projects, mention or tag me with @barleyandbirch, or share it in the comments of one of our Pinterest project pins.
This is a great idea! I love the idea of incorporating games and activities into water conservation efforts, as it makes learning about this important issue more fun and engaging for people of all ages. It’s also a great way to raise awareness and encourage behavior change in terms of water usage. Thanks for sharing this post!