The best water tables for kids, according to experts

This is the ultimate water table with two levels and 13 accessories. Multiple buckets and pouring areas help develop gross motor skills and some of that physical strength Marston says play should provide. When kids pour water into the top level, they create a rain shower. This table also has a water maze kids can arrange themselves, providing an element of STEM play as they problem-solve and learn about cause and effect.

Recommended ages: 1½ years old and up

*currently out of stock

Our budget pick isn't short on fun! It includes unique elements like a Ferris wheel for balls and a lazy river. The five included balls are squirt balls; that squeezing action develops fine motor skills and grip strength, both precursors to handwriting. The table also includes a pouring bucket, water wheels, and a central spiral tube. It's a smaller table, but it still has plenty of play choices, which is a key component to play. According to Marston, "water tables allow children to make choices about what they want to do but do so in a setting where they are not bogged down by unlimited choices," he said.

Recommended ages: 2 years old and up

*currently out of stock

Sand, water, dinosaurs, volcanoes… what more could a kid want? This table is designed to look like a dinosaur's paradise, and the seven-piece accessory set includes dinosaurs, buckets, a rake, and a shovel. The volcano acts as a removable cover for the sandpit, and kids can pour water over the palm tree to create a rain shower.

Scott explained that water is great for sensory play and that children love different textures. She suggests parents sing as they play with kids. "Try 'Here we are playing in the sand' sung to the tune of 'Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush.' Singing and talking while playing is terrific for early language development," she said. This combination sand and water table is a great starting point for many songs and sensory experiences.

Recommended ages: 2 years old and up

*currently out of stock

Although large, this is a simple water table that has a "less is more" feel that Ransom recommends. She advises looking for simplicity and then adding your own accessories, something that is easy to do with this table that also has room for sand. The table has two compartments separated by a roadway, and it also includes a lid that can be used as a play surface. The included umbrella is removable, and the table comes with six accessories, including boats and bridges.

Recommended ages: 1½ years old and up

*currently out of stock

Kids won't run out of things to do with this pirate ship water table. Some standout features include a water cannon, water spinners that create a current within the ship, and a waterslide. The pirate theme provides plenty of opportunity for the pretend play Marston advocates for. The ship comes with multiple play pieces, including characters, a squirting shark, buckets, and a small boat. Scott likes buckets as an accessory for kids to mix and handle water.

Recommended ages: 2 years old and up

*currently out of stock

This option might not be what you picture when you think of a water table, but imagine all the possibilities with this playset. Because it's smaller and more portable, you can use it inside, outside, on the counter, in the tub, and it's even great for travel. You can easily pack it up for a trip to the beach or a long stay with family and friends. The set is made of sustainable rubberwood and uses nontoxic vegetable dyes. Some of the 13 accessories include people, trees, and boats. Ransom recommends water tables that are multipurpose and can be filled with different materials to provide a variety of opportunities for sensory play. Try that out with this playset by filling it with some of her recommendations: sensory beads, rice, or potting soil.

Recommended ages: 3 years old and up

*currently out of stock

This is my daughter's current favorite water table, ever since we received a review unit to test. The table has two levels; pour water in the top level to create a shower and to activate the spinning water features. It comes with multiple accessories, including buckets, a rubber duck, and a flipper to launch the duck into the water. As I watch her play with the table and activate the water features, I see her engage in problem-solving that Marston says is a result of unstructured play.

Recommended ages: 1½ years old and up

*currently out of stock

This table has an umbrella to protect young and delicate skin from the sun, and it has a lower level that's easy for little toddlers to reach. There is a small waterfall from the upper to lower pool, and some of the 11 accessories include a strainer and scooping buckets. These water tools are excellent for helping 1-year-olds develop motor skills and activities of daily living like scooping and pouring. Scott recommends Step2 water tables, and this is definitely a great one. Because it has two main activity pools and fun features like a diving board and a swinging slide, this option will be a hit with older kids, too.

Recommended ages: 1½ years old and up

*currently out of stock

Older kids won't outgrow the fun of this water table that's reminiscent of carnival games and amusement parks. Older kids (and parents!) will love competing against each other in this classic water shooting game where players race to be the first to raise their ball to the top. Kids can also use sprayers to sink their friends' boats, activate spinners, and overflow splashing buckets. These games and sprayers provide the perfect combination of the structured and unstructured play that Marston describes. Just make sure you're ready to get wet; we can't guarantee your kids won't get creative and find other things to spray!

Recommended ages: 3 years old and up

*currently out of stock