Inside: Cheap. fun summer water play for kids that cost less than $15.

Ham and Cheese.

Mustard and Ketchup. 

Kids and Water. 

You know, some things are just meant to be together.

And when $15 can get you 30+ minutes, it is a GAME CHANGER. Remember, sensory bin activities like this and this lemon sensory bin can also have a tremendous amount of benefits as Busy Toddler explains here. 

First sensory bin? Start here.

RELATED: If you are looking to keep 50+ activities in your back pocket this summer, check out our Alphabet Activity Cards.

Set up this summer fun in a flash. 

Another great thought about this $15 cheap summer activity is that most of your materials are probably already in your home! Search around and you are sure to find some similar variations.

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CHEAP SUMMER ACTIVITIES START HERE:

• Water

• Food Coloring $5

• Dish Soap – assuming you already own

• Sea Shells $8

• Dollar Store Ocean Stickers $2 – OPTIONAL

If you do not already have a bin, this activity will take you over the $15 limit. However, you will use this bin for many activities to come. 

I prepped this cheap summer activity in less than 8 minutes. 

You can prepare fun sensory bins with or without your kids help.

I enjoy mixing it up. Sometimes we all get it together (this helps children understand sequence of events).  Other times I quietly prep as they play independently so I have something ready for them when they remember they are hungry. AGAIN. 

1. Place your ocean stickers UNDER your ocean bin. – Remember, this is optional.

2. Place your ocean bin over the stickers. Now they will stay put.

3. Fill your ocean bin with water.

4. Add blue food coloring and dish soap.

5. Add shells, driftwood, large white ocean rocks, etc. into your ocean bin.

6. Invite your friends to come play.

RELATED: Enjoy water play? You’ll love this water play roundup from Happy Hooligans!

A few tips to make this water play successful and some extensions:

Kitchen utensils you ALREADY OWN make a great addition. 

Here we threw in some:

• ladles

• water pitchers

• funnels

Remember the outdoor bin we shared? You can find all our favorites in this outdoor supply list.

What do you have that would make a great addition to this ocean water bin? 

My three-year-old and four-year-old loved this activity so much that they played with it for almost an hour! 

Take a look around your kitchen and get this set up today! 

Who wants more water play? Find 35+ Water Play Ideas HERE all in one place.

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