- SplashEZ 3-in-1 Splash Pad & Learning Pool
- Blossom Bright Sprinkler
- Blisstime Automatic Lawn Sprinkler
- Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Outdoor Adventure Pad
- Munchkin Float & Play Bubbles Bath Toy
- Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table
- Intex Multicolor Rainbow Slide Inflatable Pool
- SplashEZ Non Slip Splash Pad for Kids & Dogs
- Nuby ICY Gel Teether Ring
- Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Playground
SplashEZ 3-in-1 Splash Pad & Learning Pool
This innovative splash pad from SplashEZ is designed to make learning a blast. Created by parents, it features a learning mat base that helps toddlers soak up knowledge about letters from A to Z while they play. It’s a fantastic way to combine education with outdoor fun.
As a 3-in-1 product, it serves as a splash pad, sprinkler, and a shallow wading pool, making it ideal for children 12 months and older. Parents can have peace of mind knowing it’s made from BPA and phthalate-free materials, ensuring a safe and refreshing way to beat the summer heat.
Blossom Bright Sprinkler
Add a touch of whimsy to your lawn with the Blossom Bright Sprinkler. Its charming design features a bouquet of pink, fuchsia, and violet flowers that create a delightful water display. It’s a simple way to encourage active, refreshing outdoor play.
This sprinkler attaches to any standard garden hose for instant fun. You can easily adjust the water pressure to control the height of the spray, making it suitable for kids of different ages. It’s a wonderful way to combine playtime with watering the garden.
Blisstime Automatic Lawn Sprinkler
For families with larger yards, the Blisstime Automatic Lawn Sprinkler is a great option. This 360-degree rotating sprinkler is designed to cover a large area, making it perfect for kids to run through while also keeping the grass green.
Featuring a three-arm sprayer and a leak-free design, it provides a consistent and reliable water flow. Its easy hose connection means you can have it set up and running in moments, providing hours of active fun for children on a hot day.
Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Outdoor Adventure Pad
This isn’t a traditional sprinkler, but it’s a brilliant water-based activity for quieter moments. The Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Pad includes eight outdoor adventure-themed coloring boards that magically reveal colors and patterns when painted with the included water pen.
It’s a reusable, mess-free activity that is perfect for travel or for use outdoors. The pages are white when dry and reveal vibrant scenes when wet, and a special red lens shows hidden pictures, providing a fun and engaging sensory experience.
Munchkin Float & Play Bubbles Bath Toy
While designed for the bath, these Float & Play Bubbles are perfect for small kiddie pools and splash pads. The set includes four hole-free, watertight toys featuring friendly characters like a ducky and a whale, as well as whirly toys that spin and rattle.
Each bubble is designed to stimulate a baby’s senses of sight, hearing, and touch. The textured rings that move around the bubbles add another layer of fun, making them a great portable water toy for young children.
Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table
This water table creates a mini water park in your backyard. Kids can use the large bucket to pour water into the top waterfall tray, activating a rainfall effect that splashes down into the pond below. It’s a fantastic sensory playset for toddlers.
The set includes 13 pieces, including maze-like spinners, ramps, and buckets that can be rearranged for endless cause-and-effect play. This encourages STEM learning while children have fun with the hand-held spinning wheel and side flipper.
Intex Multicolor Rainbow Slide Inflatable Pool
For the ultimate backyard water adventure, the Intex Rainbow Slide Pool is a top choice. This colorful inflatable pool features a wading area, a main pool, and an exciting water slide, providing multiple ways for kids to play and cool off.
It comes with several built-in games, including a ring toss, ball roller, and ball toss game, as well as a fun water sprayer. Setup is quick and easy—just inflate, attach a garden hose, and the summer fun can begin for children ages 2 and up.
SplashEZ Non Slip Splash Pad for Kids & Dogs
This extra-large 69-inch splash pad is designed for the whole family, including furry members! Its key feature is a non-slip surface that helps prevent slips and falls, making it a safer option for energetic kids and pets.
Constructed with paw-resistant materials, it’s built to withstand playful claws and little feet. The spacious surface area ensures there’s plenty of room for everyone to splash and play together, making it a social and active summer toy.
Nuby ICY Gel Teether Ring
For the youngest members of the family, the Nuby ICY Gel Teether Ring offers soothing relief during outdoor play. The set includes three fun shapes—a popsicle, donut, and ice cream—filled with a special gel that stays cool after being chilled in the fridge.
Each teether has different textured surfaces with bumps and ridges to help soothe a baby’s gums. The bright colors and perfect size for little hands make it a great sensory toy to have on hand during a warm day outside.
Little Tikes Spiralin’ Seas Waterpark Playground
This multi-activity water playground from Little Tikes is designed for maximum fun. It typically includes a waterslide, wading pool, and various interactive water features like sprayers and waterfalls, creating an entire waterpark in your backyard.
It encourages active play as children can slide, splash, and explore the different water elements. Built by a trusted brand in kids’ toys, it’s constructed for durability and long-term use, providing a central hub for summer entertainment for years to come.
Buying Guide: How to Pick the Perfect Sprinkler for Your Kids
Choosing the right sprinkler for your kids is more than just grabbing the first one you see at the store. I think about a few key things to make sure I get something that will provide hours of fun and stand up to the chaos of a summer day. The best sprinklers for kids this summer are the ones that match your child’s age, your yard’s setup, and your own need for something easy to manage.
First, consider the age of your children. For toddlers and younger kids, I look for something simple, low to the ground, and not too overwhelming. A gentle arch or a soft spray from a splash pad is perfect. For older, more energetic kids, they often want an interactive experience. Think sprinklers that double as obstacle courses, have multiple sprayers, or involve games like ring toss. The intensity of the spray matters too; a firehose-like blast might be too much for a three-year-old but perfect for a ten-year-old.
Next, look at your space and water source. How big is your yard? Some sprinklers, like the long caterpillar or whale-shaped ones, need a good amount of room to stretch out. Others are more compact. Also, check how it connects to your hose. A standard connection is fine, but if your spigot is far away, you might need a longer hose. I always make sure the sprinkler is placed on a relatively flat surface to avoid tripping and to ensure it works correctly.
Durability is a huge factor. Kids are not always gentle, and summer sun can be harsh on plastic. I look for sprinklers made from sturdy, BPA-free materials that can handle being stomped on, dragged across the grass, and left in the sun. Features like reinforced seams on splash pads or thick PVC on arch sprinklers are good signs. Also, think about storage. When summer is over, can it be deflated, folded, or packed away easily?
Finally, I consider the “fun factor” and setup. Some sprinklers are literally plug-and-play, while others might require a bit of assembly or inflating. How much effort am I willing to put in? Features like adjustable water pressure, multiple spray patterns, and bonus activities (like water basketball hoops) can really extend the play value. By thinking about your kids’ ages, your yard, and the sprinkler’s build quality, you can find the perfect centerpiece for your backyard water fun.
FAQ
At what age are water sprinklers safe for kids?
Water sprinklers can be enjoyed by children as young as one or two years old, but with close supervision. For this age group, I recommend very gentle options like small splash pads or sprinkler mats that create a shallow puddle. Always be within arm’s reach of toddlers. As kids get older and more confident, usually around four or five, they can graduate to more interactive sprinklers with arches and sprayers. No matter the age, active adult supervision is non-negotiable around any water play.
How much water do these sprinklers typically use?
Water usage varies a lot depending on the sprinkler type and your water pressure. A simple arch sprinkler or a small splash pad uses a surprisingly manageable amount of water, often comparable to running a garden hose for a short while. Larger, more complex setups with multiple sprayers will naturally use more. To conserve water, I set a timer for play sessions and use the sprinkler on lawn areas that could use a watering anyway, killing two birds with one stone.
Can I leave the sprinkler set up all summer?
While it might be tempting to just leave it in the yard, I don’t recommend it. Constant exposure to sun can weaken the plastic materials, making them brittle and more likely to crack. Leaving it out also exposes it to dirt, lawnmower debris, and overnight weather. For the longevity of your sprinkler, it’s best to drain it, give it a quick dry, and store it in a garage or shed after each use, or at least at the end of the day.
What is the easiest type of sprinkler to set up?
If you want something that is literally ready in seconds, the classic arch-style sprinklers are the winners. You just unroll it, attach it to your garden hose, and turn on the water. Many flat mat-style sprinklers are similarly easy. The ones that take more time are typically inflatable splash pads, which require a pump or a lot of lung power, and more elaborate sets that have multiple parts to connect.
My water pressure is low. Will a sprinkler still work?
Many modern sprinklers are designed to work well even with lower water pressure. Look for models that specifically mention they are good for low-pressure systems. Sprinklers with fewer holes or larger openings tend to perform better than those with hundreds of tiny nozzles when pressure is low. Simple arch sprinklers and some splash pads are usually a safe bet.
Are there sprinklers that are good for both toddlers and older siblings?
Absolutely! This is a common challenge. I look for sprinklers with different “zones.” For example, a larger splash pad might have a gentle center area for little ones and more active sprayers or a slide on one end for the bigger kids. Another great option is a sprinkler with an adjustable water pressure valve, so you can tone down the intensity for the younger children while letting the older ones enjoy a stronger spray. Finding one of these versatile models is a great way to ensure you have some of the best sprinklers for kids this summer for your whole family.