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The Best Water Tables For Kids

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Last Updated: 21 March 2023
water and sand table

Summertime in a child’s 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 won’t be entertained by a sprinkler for very long. So why not check our top picks for the best water tables for kids? They’re 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. It’s a small play area that can develop your child’s 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. You’ll have to take your child’s interests into account when choosing the one you should get.

The 8 Water Tables For Kids 2023

Top Durability
Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table With Umbrella
Most Versatile
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table
Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table
Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship
Step2 Fiesta Cruise Sand & Water Table
Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table | Kids Dual-Level Water Play Table with Umbrella & 11-Pc Accessory Set | Large Water Table
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table | Kids Water Play Table with 13-Pc Accessory Set
Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table
Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship – Amazon Exclusive
Step2 Fiesta Cruise Sand & Water Table with Umbrella | Kids Outdoor Play Table
$169.99
$134.99
$169.00
$79.99
$149.99
-
-
-
-
798 Reviews
2,306 Reviews
444 Reviews
1,698 Reviews
188 Reviews
Size
43.27 x 25 x 22.52 inches
39.02 x 24.02 x 32.01 inches
29.5 x 33 x 30 inches
40 x 29 x 38 inches
39.5 x 26.5 x 28 inches
Weight
16.5 pounds
14.96 pounds
14 pounds
19.48 pounds
18 pounds
Accessories
11
13
7
9
9
Features
Umbrella
Fun Water Wall
Table Lid
Realistic Play Details
Umbrella
Top Durability
Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table With Umbrella
Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table | Kids Dual-Level Water Play Table with Umbrella & 11-Pc Accessory Set | Large Water Table
$169.99
-
798 Reviews
Size
43.27 x 25 x 22.52 inches
Weight
16.5 pounds
Accessories
11
Features
Umbrella
Most Versatile
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table | Kids Water Play Table with 13-Pc Accessory Set
$134.99
-
2,306 Reviews
Size
39.02 x 24.02 x 32.01 inches
Weight
14.96 pounds
Accessories
13
Features
Fun Water Wall
Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table
Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table
$169.00
-
444 Reviews
Size
29.5 x 33 x 30 inches
Weight
14 pounds
Accessories
7
Features
Table Lid
Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship
Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship – Amazon Exclusive
$79.99
1,698 Reviews
Size
40 x 29 x 38 inches
Weight
19.48 pounds
Accessories
9
Features
Realistic Play Details
Step2 Fiesta Cruise Sand & Water Table
Step2 Fiesta Cruise Sand & Water Table with Umbrella | Kids Outdoor Play Table
$149.99
-
188 Reviews
Size
39.5 x 26.5 x 28 inches
Weight
18 pounds
Accessories
9
Features
Umbrella
Step2 Rain Shower & Unicorns Water Table
Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Play Table
Little Tikes Fish ‘n Splash Water Table
Step2 Rain Showers & Unicorns Water Table | Kids Purple Water Play Table with 13-Pc Unicorn Accessory Set
Little Tikes Spiralin' Seas Waterpark Play Table, Multicolor
Little Tikes Fish 'n Splash Water Table
$144.99
$50.89
$44.99
-
416 Reviews
4,138 Reviews
691 Reviews
Size
39 x 24 x 32 inches
29 x 29.5 x 31.5 inches
31.5 x 29 x 29 inches
Weight
16.06 pounds
11.88 pounds
9.04 pounds
Accessories
13
6
7
Features
Unicorn Theme
-
-
Step2 Rain Shower & Unicorns Water Table
Step2 Rain Showers & Unicorns Water Table | Kids Purple Water Play Table with 13-Pc Unicorn Accessory Set
$144.99
-
416 Reviews
Size
39 x 24 x 32 inches
Weight
16.06 pounds
Accessories
13
Features
Unicorn Theme
Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Play Table
Little Tikes Spiralin' Seas Waterpark Play Table, Multicolor
$50.89
4,138 Reviews
Size
29 x 29.5 x 31.5 inches
Weight
11.88 pounds
Accessories
6
Features
-
Little Tikes Fish ‘n Splash Water Table
Little Tikes Fish 'n Splash Water Table
$44.99
691 Reviews
Size
31.5 x 29 x 29 inches
Weight
9.04 pounds
Accessories
7
Features
-

Best Overall: Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table With Umbrella Review

Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table With Umbrella
798 Reviews
Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table With Umbrella

If you’re looking for a no-fail water play table, you can’t 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 you’re expecting a lot of playdates for the summer.

The upper-tier trickles down to the lower one through a cute waterfall when filled up. There’s 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 there’s 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

Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table
2,306 Reviews
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table

Most parents won’t 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 that’s 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. There’s also an attachable umbrella that provides shade. An added precaution after layers of sunblock can’t 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

Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table
444 Reviews
Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table

Think you’ve got a budding archeologist at home? Fuel your child’s 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. There’s also a palm tree where their Jurassic friends can hang out under the shade. Remove Ash Mountain, and you’ve 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

Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship
1,698 Reviews
Little Tikes Anchors Away Pirate Ship

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.

There’s a pump to keep the water moving. To activate it, the kids have to pour aqua into the crow’s 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

Step2 Fiesta Cruise Sand & Water Table
188 Reviews
Step2 Fiesta Cruise Sand & Water Table

Maybe you’ve 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 one’s pretty decked out.

Just like the kind of cruise ship grandma would go on, this one’s 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

Step2 Rain Shower & Unicorns Water Table
416 Reviews
Step2 Rain Shower & Unicorns Water Table

Unicorns are the most magical mythical creatures in our book. It’s 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. There’s 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 Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Play Table Review

Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Play Table
4,138 Reviews
Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Play Table

Out of all the water tables for kids on this list, we’d say this one is the most educational. If you’re looking for a water table for kids that will keep your tot fully engaged, this one can’t be beaten.

Watch your child figure out the “put and take” concept and simple mechanisms like spirals, wheels, and gears. They can turn a crank to make the Ferris Wheel pick up and drop off “passengers” 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 Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Play Table is a great way to improve his or her motor skills. It’s loaded with features that you can’t find on other water tables.

Pros

  • Improves kids’ 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 ‘n Splash Water Table Review

Little Tikes Fish ‘n Splash Water Table
691 Reviews
Little Tikes Fish ‘n Splash Water Table

Maybe your kid is too young to go along on daddy’s 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.

There’s 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.

There’s 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 ‘n 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
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Buyer’s 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 it’s 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 don’t 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.

water table with umbrella

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 child’s playthings, it can’t 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. They’re 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, there’s also one that’s purely meant for aqua. These usually come with water toys for kids, including squirting figures, tools, and simple mechanisms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does sand and water play help a child's development

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 child’s 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 Child’s Development?

Playing with aqua and sand helps kids familiarize themselves with actions like digging, pouring, splashing, building, and scooping. As they’re having fun, they’re 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

How do you clean a sand water table

If you still don’t know which one to get, you can go wrong with Step2 Spill & Splash Seaway Water Table. It’s 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, we’re sure we have one that matches them in our search for the best water table for kids 2023. Whether it’s 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.

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COMMENTS

    • Loreta Dumphy
    • 19 January, 2020
  • I love site platform because they overlook baby products. I always make the right choice.