Playing with water is one of life's little joys and kids naturally revel in it
. Water play teaches kids to manipulate elements with their hands and can encourage manual dexterity and hand eye co-ordination. Water is also an easy, low cost and engaging way for kids to play.
For those that live near a beach, river or lake you will appreciate the draw that water has for kids. If you live in a dry or urban area, then you may need to find another way to help your kids connect with water.
Pools are great fun but require constant adult supervision as there is generally no shallow areas for young kids to wade in, unlike beaches and lakes. This is where a water activity table can come in handy.
Water tables from toy companies like Little Tikes offer parents defined areas where kids can play freely with water without spreading water all over the house. They are made to be played with by just about all ages and the tables are designed to be accessed from the smallest standing toddler.
After the initial purchase of a water activity table, there is not much else to purchase, just add water and any water toys or even kitchen utensils like cups and spoons and your child will be engrossed for hours.
You can choose a table that has a simple setup that may include separate basins to hold water but you can also find tables that include chutes, funnels and various other elements and may even allow for the addition of sand to enhance play.
Whatever you choose, your child will enjoy having their own area to play with water and make as much "mess" as they like (within reason). The great thing about water is that it is free, doesn't stain and kids love it!