# 15 Best Splashing Water Play Activities for The School Holidays - Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/family/kids/13-cheap-or-free-water-play-ideas-for-the-school-holidays/ - Published: 2022-11-25T08:00:00+11:00 - Author: Clare Whitfield ## _School holidays are around the corner and the kids’ energy level are usually above normal during these days. _ > As parents, we need to give their energy levels some red carpet treatment by introducing > some cheap or free play ideas for the school holidays. > _(Disclaimer: We are not promoting water wastage. We are simply trying to promote > the activities by using minimal water as possible.)_ **Here are some ideas that we love:** ## **1. 󠀁[DIY Bottle Sprinkler](https://www.littlepassports.com/blog/craft-diy/soda-bottle-sprinkler/)󠁿** > Get your kids to shower outside with a DIY sprinkler made out of recycled soft > drink bottles. > [Here’s a great tutorial!](https://www.littlepassports.com/blog/craft-diy/soda-bottle-sprinkler/) [⌊Kids playing with a garden sprinkler on a sunny day enjoying water play activities outdoors⌉⌊Kids playing with a garden sprinkler on a sunny day enjoying water play activities outdoors⌉[ [gluesticksblog.com](https://gluesticksblog.com/2017/05/24-summer-activities-for-kids.html) ## **2. Make An 󠀁[Open Aquarium](https://frugalfun4boys.com/tin-foil-river-outdoor-water-play/)󠁿** > Let your kids make an open aquarium using some aluminium foil for them to put > their toy fishes or reptiles in there. [⌊20 cheap or free water play ideas for these school holidays | stay at home mum⌉⌊ 20 cheap or free water play ideas for these school holidays | stay at home mum⌉[ [via frugalfun4boys.com](https://frugalfun4boys.com/tin-foil-river-outdoor-water-play/) ## **3. Create A 󠀁[Cascading Water Wall](https://tinkerlab.com/diy-water-wall/)󠁿** > This cascading waterfall is really fun to do! Most especially if you are teaching > your kids to recycle._ _ [⌊Child watering a diy water wall with cups and pipes for outdoor fun⌉⌊Child watering a diy water wall with cups and pipes for outdoor fun⌉[ [tinkerlab.com](https://tinkerlab.com/diy-water-wall/) ## **4. 󠀁[Play With Bubbles](https://pictureusreading.com/bubble-foam-sensory-activity-bubble-foam-sensory-activity/sea-foam-sensory-play-from-twodaloo.html)󠁿** > Bubbles plus a cool colour via a few drops of food colouring is always a winner! [⌊20 cheap or free water play ideas for these school holidays | stay at home mum⌉⌊ 20 cheap or free water play ideas for these school holidays | stay at home mum⌉[ [via two-daloo.com](https://pictureusreading.com/bubble-foam-sensory-activity-bubble-foam-sensory-activity/sea-foam-sensory-play-from-twodaloo.html) ## **5. Make Some 󠀁[Cool Noise](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6j9f3m)󠁿** > Create some new music by gathering different shapes of metal bowls and putting > it on a tub filled with water and hitting it with a rod. [⌊20 cheap or free water play ideas for these school holidays | stay at home mum⌉⌊ 20 cheap or free water play ideas for these school holidays | stay at home mum⌉[ [via childsplaymusic.com.au](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6j9f3m) ## **6. Experiment With Objects** > Do a simple science experiment with your toddler. Let him or her determine which > objects sink or float by gathering some household objects or toys and trying them > one by one in a mini tub of water. Some great ideas are apples and oranges, toys > and rocks. [Here’s an awesome guide!](https://handsonaswegrow.com/sink-float-experiment-toddlers/) [⌊Woman working on a laptop with documents planning her future career steps⌉⌊Woman working on a laptop with documents planning her future career steps⌉ ](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/sink-or-float-experiment-20171211-650x650.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1) [handsonaswegrow.com](https://handsonaswegrow.com/sink-float-experiment-toddlers/) ## **7. Make A 󠀁[Frog World](http://momstotschool.blogspot.com/2012/08/frogs.html)󠁿** > Create a frog world with some miniature toys and some colourful baubles. Make > some lotus leaf using wide recycled plastic from plastic containers. [⌊Kids enjoying water play with floating lily pads and toys in a clear plastic container⌉⌊ Kids enjoying water play with floating lily pads and toys in a clear plastic container⌉[ [momstotschool.blogspot.com](http://momstotschool.blogspot.com/2012/08/frogs.html) ## **8. Set Up A 󠀁[Mini Car Wash](http://kitchenfloorcrafts.blogspot.com/2014/06/soap-foam-car-wash-bins.html)󠁿** > Or set up a mini car wash so that they could play and clean their toy cars at > the same time. [⌊Kids enjoying water splashing activities with toy cars in a blue container on a wooden deck⌉⌊Kids enjoying water splashing activities with toy cars in a blue container on a wooden deck⌉[ kitchenfloorcrafts.blogspot.com ## **9. Make A Coloured 󠀁[Water Run Machine](http://mserinsroom.blogspot.com/2010/10/tubes-and-funnel-peg-board.html)󠁿** > Make this funnel-and-hose set up and use some coloured water for added fun. [⌊Stay at home mum⌉⌊Stay at home mum⌉[ [via mpmschoolsupplies.com](http://mserinsroom.blogspot.com/2010/10/tubes-and-funnel-peg-board.html) ## **10. Make A 󠀁[DIY Water Blob](https://www.clumsycrafter.com/the-water-blob-tutorial-using-an-iron-to-seal-the-edges/)󠁿** > Water blobs are the absolute bomb! Who would say no? [⌊Girl enjoying water play on a slip and slide during school holidays⌉⌊Girl enjoying water play on a slip and slide during school holidays⌉ ](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/How-to-make-a-Water-Blob-.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1) [www.clumsycrafter.com](https://www.clumsycrafter.com/the-water-blob-tutorial-using-an-iron-to-seal-the-edges/) ## **11. Make a 󠀁[Frozen Hand](https://happyhooligans.ca/melting-elsas-frozen-hands-activity/)󠁿** > Or create smaller water blobs using some surgical gloves to create a frozen hand > and put some more colourful baubles on it. [⌊Stay at home mum⌉⌊Stay at home mum⌉[ [via happyhooligans.ca](https://happyhooligans.ca/melting-elsas-frozen-hands-activity/) ## **12. Or 󠀁[Frozen Dino Eggs](https://frugalfun4boys.com/dinosaur-activity-for-kids-ice-eggs/)󠁿** > Recreate some frozen dino eggs using some toy dinosaurs. [⌊Stay at home mum⌉⌊Stay at home mum⌉[ via frugalfun4boys.com ## **13. Play ‘󠀁[Scrub Those Veggies](https://www.prekinders.com/veggie-sensory-table/)󠁿‘** > One way to encourage your kids to clean their toys is to play some “Scrub Those > Veggies.” Allow them to clean their toy veggies and have a contest as to who cleans > more veggies. [⌊Kids enjoying water play with floating fruits and vegetables in a red tub⌉⌊Kids enjoying water play with floating fruits and vegetables in a red tub⌉[ [via prekinders.com](https://www.prekinders.com/veggie-sensory-table/) ## 󠀁[**14. Marble Water Slid**](http://mamapapabubba.com/2013/07/06/marble-run-water-slide/)󠁿󠀁[**e**](http://mamapapabubba.com/2013/07/06/marble-run-water-slide/)󠁿 > Such an easy peasy no fuss activity the kids will love! Not the super young ones, > though. They should have adult supervision because they might get curious and > put the marbles in their mouth! [⌊Kids water slide with colourful flags and a ball for fun outdoor water play⌉⌊Kids water slide with colourful flags and a ball for fun outdoor water play⌉ ](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/img_9962.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1) [mamapapabubba.com](http://mamapapabubba.com/2013/07/06/marble-run-water-slide/) ## **󠀁[15. Water Bag Pinata](http://donswife.blogspot.com/2011/07/backyard-water-pinatas.html)󠁿** > Ok this one is something the boys will really really like and the girls will be > jealous of all the fun and will want to join, too! It’s a really activity but > the kids should be old enough and should be careful because they might hurt each > other when they get carried away. Nonetheless you only need grocery bags and water > for this one. Really awesome! [⌊Splashing water with a net during kids water play activity⌉⌊Splashing water with a net during kids water play activity⌉[ donswife.blogspot.com ### _I’m sure your kids would love to be occupied with these wet ‘n wild activities during the school holidays._ [⌊15 splashing water play activities for the school holidays | stay at home mum⌉⌊ 15 splashing water play activities for the school holidays | stay at home mum⌉[ ![author avatar](https://i0.wp.com/stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/ 12/clare_whitfield_profile.webp?quality=80&ssl=1) Clare Whitfield Chief Editor Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work. [See Full Bio](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/clare_whitfield/) [ ](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/clare_whitfield/)