As your child grows the little plastic wading pool does not have to become obsolete. It can still be kept interesting and provide hours of entertainment under the warm summer sun.
Fun Ways to Play in the Wading Pool
Everything but the Kitchen Sink: Grab plastic bowls, measuring cups and spoons, and toy kitchen supplies. Funnels are a great addition to this mix if you have any on hand. Allow the children to explore measurement and volume while you ask them to count how many times a bucket is filled by a one cup measuring scoop.
Bath Station for Toys: Gather up the toys and creative a bathing station. Get really into it by adding in a little bubble bath and allow the kids to wash up the toys. In the end, you will have clean toys and happy kids. The kids can get in the pool or wash from outside of the pool. Be careful not to add too many bubbles and rinse it all thoroughly.
Watch Out for the Iceberg: Freeze water in cardboard milk jug containers. Cut off the top first and only fill about halfway. Take the ice out in chunks and pretend it is an iceberg. The kids will be amazed it can float! They also will enjoy watching it disappear. Ask the children why the iceberg disappears and how the difference between ice and water.
Relay Games: Set up a simple obstacle course with the pool on one end and buckets on the other. Have the children race to fill up the buckets with water from the pool. That alone will entertain the kids. However, if you want to make it more interesting have a round where they use large sponges, then plastic bottles with holes poked in it, plastic spoons, and maybe a small measuring cup. This is so much fun you will want to participate!