💦 Water Sprinkler Baseball: The Perfect Summer Water Activities for Preschoolers
If you’re searching for summer water activities for preschoolers and young kids that are fun, active, and super simple to set up, you’re going to love this one: Water Sprinkler Baseball!
I’ll be honest—I was totally skeptical at first. The idea is that the water from a sprinkler can actually hold a ball up in the air like a tee? I thought, “There’s no way that really works.”
But to my surprise? It absolutely does! 🙌
As long as the sprinkler is lying perfectly flat, the water pressure holds the ball right in place—just enough for your little one to whack it off like a floating tee!
⚾ How to Play Water Sprinkler Baseball
This easy backyard game is perfect for hot summer days and builds gross motor skills while keeping your preschooler cool and moving.
Here’s how it works:
- Lay your baseball water sprinkler completely flat on the ground (this part is important!). If it’s tilted even a little, the ball will slide off.
- Use a light plastic ball—ours came with two balls that worked perfectly.
- Hook it up to a water hose and turn the water on, and watch the ball float at the top of the spray!
- Let your preschooler take a swing using a plastic bat or pool noodle.
- Whether they hit or miss, everyone has a blast. Win-win!
💡 Why It’s One of Our Favorite Summer Water Activities for Preschool
- ✅ No fancy setup—just a sprinkler, ball, and bat
- ✅ Encourages hand-eye coordination and gross motor development
- ✅ Perfect for solo play or taking turns with siblings
- ✅ Keeps kids cool, active, and laughing
- ✅ Great alternative to screen time
This one is such a hit at our house (literally 😂), and it’s a creative twist on traditional summer water play. It’s simple enough for toddlers, but still fun for older kids too!
🚒 So Many Fun Sprinkler Designs to Choose From!
One of my favorite parts? There are tons of fun sprinkler designs out there to make the game even more exciting for your little one.
We chose a fire hydrant sprinkler because my boys are obsessed with anything firefighter-related—but you can find all kinds of playful options like snails, dinosaurs, rocket ships, whales, helicopters, and more. Just pick one your little one will love, and it instantly adds an extra layer of fun to your backyard water play.
🔄 Two Ways to Play: Tee Mode or Splash Mode!
Another cool feature? Most of these fun sprinkler designs come with a dual setting—you can use it for Water Sprinkler Baseball by setting it to spray straight up in one steady stream, or switch it to regular sprinkler mode so it sprays water all over the yard for classic splash-around fun. It’s the perfect way to cool off after the game or keep the fun going for siblings and friends!
📚 Extend the Learning
Even though this game feels like pure fun, it checks off so many preschool learning goals—movement, coordination, timing, and even practicing patience and turn-taking if you’ve got multiple little ones.
This activity pairs perfectly with a summer-themed learning week like we do in The Playful Preschool Club—my low-prep preschool membership packed with printables, hands-on fun, and ideas like this that keep kids learning all summer long.
🎁 Free Summer Printable
Need something for indoor play too? Grab my free Summer Indoor Scavenger Hunt—perfect for those too-hot or rainy afternoons when your littles still need to burn energy!
📬 Click here to grab the free printable
Final Thoughts
Water Sprinkler Baseball has officially earned a spot on our list of favorite summer water activities for preschool. It’s easy, affordable, and brings so much joy to a simple backyard day.
Give it a try and let me know what you think—I’d love to see your little slugger in action!
Looking for more fun summer water activities for preschoolers?
Check out these DIY Reusable Water Balloons! Your kids will LOVE THEM! Plus they will save so much money on water balloons!
