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Friends Art Lab / Blog / Metallic Water Table Summer Activity 

Metallic Water Table Summer Activity 

By Kristian Klebofski   Published: May 23, 2023    Updated: May 23, 2023

The discovery of the metallic water table was one of the best days of my educator life. But, seriously, you’ll say the same once you try it!

A young girl smiles at the camera and stands behind a table with 6 small plastic containers on it. Each container is filled with water and a different color of metallic paint (green, purple, silver, gold, red, and blue). In the background are green grass and pink potted flowers.
Table of Contents:
  1. A metallic water table is DAZZLING
  2. A metallic water table is the PERFECT summer activity
  3. Materials
  4. Directions
  5. Is a water table sensory play?
  6. Does this stain?
  7. FAQ
  8. You need this metallic water table summer activity in your life

A metallic water table is DAZZLING

I know, I know, dazzling is a strong word, but it checks out.

A splash of metallic paint into a water table makes for the most mesmerizing water table of your dreams.

It looks and feels magical.

Related: Metallic paints also look beautiful on our GIANT 10-foot Summer coloring banner! 

A young girl pours blue metallic paint into a clear plastic bucket of water.

A metallic water table is the PERFECT summer activity

Who doesn’t want an activity that will keep kids playing and learning for hours that sets up in a snap?

There just aren’t enough adjectives to describe how beautiful, spectacular, stunning, shimmery, and breathtaking this is!

Also, it’s low-risk talking it up so much because you’ll feel the same when you see it.

Looking for more water table ideas? You’ve come to the right place:

  • Berry Basket Water Table – Friends Art Lab
  • Rainbow Pouring Station – Busy Toddler
  • Duck Pond Water Play – Fantastic Fun and Learning
Six jars of metallic paint sit on a wet table next to a clear plastic container for a metallic water table simmer activity. The colors of paint include silver, blue, red, purple, gold, and green.

Materials

Friends Art Lab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.

  • Metallic kids’ paint
  • Shallow bins of water – the ones pictured here are from the Dollar Tree, but here are some similar ones on Amazon
  • Whisk or spoon
A child holds a hose and fills up plastic containers on a table outside for a metallic water table summer activity. behind her are grass and large pink potted flowers.

Directions

You can set this up in the same amount of time it takes you to say, “THIS IS THE COOLEST WATER TABLE EVER.”

Add water to shallow bins, add a splash of metallic paint (start with 1-2 tablespoons), and mix.

Note: Kids enjoy setting this up just as much as they enjoy playing with it, so it’s basically two activities in one, a BOGO, if you will.

Related: Look how cool this technique works for spooky Halloween potions, too!

A young girl stands at a table with colorful bins of metallic water. She holds a large plastic bottle and is about to scoop purple metallic water into it. In another bin is a small plastic container floating in red metallic paint with colorful plastic insect toys inside.

Is a water table sensory play?

It is!

Kids are using their:

✋🏼 Tactile sense (touching)

👀 Visual sense (seeing)

👂🏻 Auditory sense (hearing)

When kids connect different senses while they play, they’re activating a multisensory experience which aids in acquiring + retaining new skills, building their foundational knowledge, and teaches kids how to use their whole brain while learning.

Sensory play is the best.

A young child stirs purple paint into a. clear bucket of water on an outdoor table. Inside each bucket is a splash of metallic paint.

Does this stain?

It shouldn’t.

It hasn’t ever for us.

When adding a tablespoon or two of paint to a ginormous bucket of water, it gets so diluted that it just doesn’t stain.

I mean, I wouldn’t do this activity on top of a family heirloom blanket that has been passed from generations and is the only relic of great great great grandma, but outside on the concrete or grass?

You should be golden. (Wait, you shouldn’t be golden. Ah, you get the idea! 😂)

A child holds a hose to fill up buckets of water, but she holds it high and it begins to splash on the table.

FAQ

How long does the water last?

We start with fresh water every day, and the paint lasts for as long as the play lasts.

What ages is this recommended for?

Any that can safely use the materials! As always, use extra supervision when kids are around water.

Will metallic acrylic paint work?

Acrylic paint is permanent and you run the risk of staining everything. I recommend using kids’ paint.

A young girl smiles at the camera and stands behind a table with 6 small plastic containers on it. Each container is filled with water and a different color of metallic paint (green, purple, silver, gold, red, and blue). In the background are green grass and pink potted flowers.

You need this metallic water table summer activity in your life

Because you only need a splash of paint, you make this over and over and over again all Summer long.

Your kids are going to love this. 

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Kristian

Hi, I’m Kristian!

I love all things early childhood. Having earned a master's degree in education, I love sharing my passion and knowledge both as a classroom preschool teacher and college professor. Friends Art Lab is my heart and I'm excited to share with you! LEARN MORE

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