July 9, 2013

Colored Water Play in the Play Pool

Summer Fun with Water Balloons and Color Theory



Exploring color theory in the play pool - combining science and summer fun!

Bringing water balloons into the play pool is a summer favorite of ours.  Anytime of year my boys love water balloons in the bath tub for bath time play.  One activity they never tire of is popping water balloons filled with colored water and watching the bath water change colors.  Last summer I filled a bucket of water balloons with food coloring tinted water and let them pop the balloons in the play pool and watch the colors mix together.  The photos didn't turn out well, so I never shared the activity.  Today the summer weather was perfect for this summer fun color mixing!


Bring water balloons into the play pool for some simple summer fun!

How to Fill Balloons with Colored Water

This post contains affiliate links. Here is my full disclosure policy.
Supplies:

Water balloons in the play pool - beat the heat with simple water play!

Filling the water balloons is time consuming, but this summer fun activity is worth it.  Water play is fun on its own, and the added sensory materials in the play pool make it exciting.

Water balloons in the kiddie pool

I chose to use yellow and red liquid watercolors, so the result of the mixing colors would be a vibrant orange, perfect for summer.  I added a few squirts of watercolors to the balloon pumper each time I refilled it with water.  You could also add a few drop directly into the balloons, but be prepared for a mess.

Popping balloons filled with colored water for summer fun to beat the heat

JZ (6) and J-Bug (4) were elated when the first balloon popped, filling the play pool with red coloring.  As the color mixed with the water it tinted it a light pink.


My favorite part of the activity was watching their creativity in popping the balloons.


In addition to popping the water balloons, throwing them into the play pool with all their might produced hefty splashes, enhancing the water play experience.


I encouraged them to pick up the balloon trash as they went along, so they were free to swim in the colored water once all the balloons were popped.  This was especially important so their toddler brothers didn't find any pieces when they woke up from their naps.

Exploring color theory in the play pool with water balloons filled with colored water

With each POP! the color of the water changed, each color more vivid than before.

Popping balloons filled with colored water, changing the water color in the play pool

JZ's popping method of choice was stepping on the balloons.

Exploring color theory in the play pool with water balloons

J-Bug loved squeezed with all of his might and watching the balloons burst between his hands.

Popping balloons filled with colored water

After awhile JZ asked me for a pine needle from a nearby tree.

Change the color of the water in your play pool with water balloons filled with different colors!

Watching the colors mix was thrilling even to me.

Color mixing in the play pool - combining science and summer fun!

Once all the balloons had been popped J-Bug and JZ added more water to the play pool and swam for an hour until I had to drag them out for gymnastics.  The final color was a gorgeous summer orange.

For more ways summer fun ideas follow me on Pinterest.

Follow Me on Pinterest


Fill the play pool with colored water for an added treat!

More summer fun ideas with water balloons:


  

    

6 comments:

  1. Doing this tomorrow! The girls asked to play with water balloons tomorrow, and they are going to LOOOOVE this twist! Thanks for the inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such amazing colors! My kids love the bath colors, but this makes it a fun way to play in the summer sun! Great idea! Thanks for sharing at For the Kids Fridays! I'm featuring your post at this week's link party at SunScholars! Can't wait to see what other fun ideas you have to share with us!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Doesn't this stain their bathing suits?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not at all. Liquid watercolors wash out easily, and even when I did it with food coloring the clothes came clean when washed in warm water. Just be sure to check the clothes well before drying since heat can set stains.

      Delete
  4. You could also add a colored bath tablet to the water balloon before filling it, those have very vibrant fun colors as well! Thank you for the idea!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I chose to use yellow and red liquid watercolors, so the result of the mixing colors would be a vibrant orange, perfect for summer. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment. I love reading your feedback. Have a blessed day!