Pipes and Water Play for Toddlers
Not too long ago, we took M to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. As usual, he was in his element there! His favorite part was the water play area, which is what inspired this water play for toddlers activity.
M’s favorite part of the water play station was the pipes. They had big pipes that could be built and taken apart, with water flowing through it. M absolutely loved it, and in my desperation to find highly entertaining activities, I wanted to try and replicate it at home.
This water play for toddlers entertained M for longer than anything else we’ve tried, so I think we can call it an absolute success!
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How I put together the pipes and water play station:
I started by filling a basin with a couple of inches of water.
I added a few drops of blue food coloring. This is optional. Be aware that M drank plenty of the water so use something edible, and leave out if your child is sensitive to food coloring.
I tossed in a few handfuls of his pipe building toys. This is one of his favorite toys, as he likes to tinker and build/take things apart. 
I added his cute elephant funnel so that he can pour water through the pipes he builds.
And of course a measuring cup to pour with. Really anything with a spout works.
IF you have anything else around that fits, just toss it in! The main thing here was the pipes so that he can build his own, plus of course things to pour so that he can watch his pipes “work.”
Place your play station on a towel so that it absorbs any overenthusiastic play..
How our water play for toddlers went:
M went right to what he knew: building pipes! Since it was a smaller play area than he usually has (our living room area rug) he actually stopped building mainly straight pipes and started getting creative…
Of course, it wasn’t a totally independent activity as he needed help – someone to hold the funnel in the pipe while he poured. But we made a great team – and you’ll find it even easier if you have multiple children playing together. 
We got to watch the water come out of the other end of the pipe. 
M enjoyed playing with the pipes – adding sections, removing, etc, while I poured water. He got to see how the water changed direction and how it always came out from the last connected piece. Here the water pours downward:
And here it started pouring outward:
After a bit I left M to it and went to work at the other end of the room. Then I heard him cackling hysterically and I panicked…
Well, it turns out he had simply discovered the art of bubble blowing! He was having the time of his life.
He had turned the pipe toys into a long straw and was blowing some fun bubbles and laughing his silly toddler laugh.
I must say that this water play station for toddlers was one of our best and most successful sensory activities yet. It shall be repeated.
Does your toddler like to play with water? What are your favorite water play activities for toddlers? Comment below!
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