Sink or Float | Educational Games for Toddlers

Sink or float is the perfect educational game for toddlers of all ages! Toddlers can starting learning concepts such as: buoyancy and depth perception all while working on their fine motor skills in this sensory activity!

As a mom of two toddlers that also watches a couple young kiddos during the week, I KNOW that it can be a struggle to find easy activities that keep toddlers entertained and learning! We started doing the sink or float game at least once a week and it will keep them entertained for a good hour!

The toddlers I watch are aged 1-4 and there are SO many differences between children throughout that age range. It is a challenge to find activities that they not only can all participate in but also have fun with WHILE learning something! Sink or float is that activity for us!

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What will the kids learn playing Sink or Float?

The littler toddlers get more of a sensory experience with this water-based activity, but we like to use small fish nets to gather sunken items. Doing this adds some depth perception work as well as fine motor skills work trying to capture the items!

Then the older toddlers have a lot of fun choosing small toys and then deciphering whether or not they think the items will sink or float!

Even as an adult I catch myself surprised at some of the items sinking or floating! And, although there is water involved and I usually do this experiment indoors, the kiddos stay fairly dry and my house stays pretty mess free!

If your toddler is particularly splash-loving, however, I would suggest doing this outside or with a blanket/towel down to catch splashed water.

What You Need to Play Sink or Float:

Towel to place submerged toys on to dry.
Small objects or toys from around the house.
Water
Aquarium or clear/glass bowl or bin. (I prefer a plastic bin.)
Small fish nets (optional)

Setting Up Sink or Float:

Fill your clear vessel of choice 3/4 of the way with water.
Set a towel next to your vessel to place submerged toys.
Have kiddos collect small object or toys into a pile to begin experiment.

How to Play Sink or Float:

Pick up items/toys one at a time.
Ask the kids to determine whether the item will sink or float.
Drop the item into the water.
See if the kids were right or wrong!
Remove item from the water and place on towel to dry.
Optional: Have the smaller kids use small fish nets to scoop out sunken toy.