Our sand a water table was a big hit when we got it, but I’m afraid it has seen better days. I’m thinking it can make it through one more summer, but I am definitely looking around for a suitable replacement. This Naturally Playful Sand and Water Activity Center from Step 2 is one of the nicer models that I’ve seen. I love the canopy, which allows you to put it even in a less-than-shady spot. I also like that the water and sand are kept relatively separate. Our table allows them to mix a little too easily. You can purchase this table for $79.99 at amazon.com.

With summer just around the corner, many children’s thoughts turn to fun in the water. And many parents begin worrying about water safety. For the child who can’t swim yet or is just learning to swim, Stearns has a new line of life jackets especially made for children, PuddleJumpers. Designed to give kids stability and at the same time allow kids to have free movement in the water, PuddleJumpers are U.S. Coast Guard-approved. They come in Green Frog, Orange Smile, and Red Ladybug, and accommodate children from 30 to 50 lbs. You can view them at StearnsFlotation.com, where they sell for $28.99. Not only do they look like they’d keep your child safe and happy in the water, they’d also allow parents to relax a bit more when their children are in the water.

Most kids love playing in the tub, and squirting toys are often a favorite. They certainly are at my house. This Rock & Roll set by Elegant Baby offers a unique twist on the traditional rubber ducky squirter. The set features five toys shaped like different musical instruments. They might just spark a whole new level of imaginative play at bath time. You can purchase the set for $15 at giggle.com. It would also make a cute gift, especially for a music lover.

The Scoop Pour N Squirt Water Fish by Sassy will keep your little ones entertained during bath time. If you have reluctant bathers, having a fun water toy might make things go a little smoother when it’s time to jump in the tub.

It never ceases to amaze me how water play can keep a child busy having fun. You don’t even have to have a fancy water toy, just an old plastic pitcher and plastic cups. But this scoop and pour is fun to look at and the little water fish fill with water when submersed and come up ready to squirt.

Visit babyearth.com to view this item, priced at just $5.95.

Round the Garden: The Poetry in Nature is the story of one “tear” on it’s journey from the earth to the atmosphere and back into the garden. What an intriguing story and one that you’ll enjoy sharing with your children. I’ll bet you and your children will never look at a “tear” the same way. The story is told in a beautiful poem written by Omri Glaser at the age of 7. It’s a graceful introduction to the cycle of water.

This book is 34 pages long. You can view it at  Zolo.com.  where it costs $16. This is a lovely gift for any holiday or occasion or for none at all.

If you need an excuse to get your toddler to stay in the bathtub longer (which is the opposite of my problem), Alex has created the Tub Tunes Symphony Set. This set includes a drum, flutes, and a xylophone, to make tub time a musical time. The set also comes with laminated sheet music (so it won’t get wet - they thought of everything!) and mallets for the drum and xylophone.

Children can also hear how the water changes the sounds of these immersible instruments. This musical gift is recommended for ages 3 and up, and is available at PeppyParents.com for $29.95. Although I love the idea of this musical set, I don’t think I’ll be purchasing it for my son, or I’d never get him out of the tub!

I’m a Haba addict, but somehow the Haba Splish Splash play mat has escaped my attention until now. I always have liked water-filled play mats, so of course I am going to have to seriously consider buying this one. The problem that I have had with my previous play mats is that they have all eventually leaked.

Because I have such confidence in the safety and quality of Haba’s products, however, I would be willing to bet that this Haba play mat would hold up. This play mat has a large water-filled area in the middle, complete with fish that “swim” when your baby presses on the water.

The rest of the Splish Splash play mat is equally inviting with bright colors and fabrics. You can purchase one for $94.95 at hunkydoryonline.com.

I just received this as a gift for my girls and it has been all they have wanted to play with since. I thought they really wouldn’t be that into it considering we live in Florida and take trips to the beach pretty frequently, but I was wrong.

This little table takes the beach and brings it into your backyard. This durable plastic table holds both water and sand where they can get creative and their hands dirty. It comes with little toys to assist in the creating and best of all, it gives mom a chance to sit down!

This thing will keep your kid occupied for hours! One word of advice though, if you’re little one is anything like mine, watch to make sure that no sand is being eaten…ewww. You can pick up this table at Target or target.com for $59.99.

After spending much of last weekend trying to keep my two year old’s water shoes on her feet, I decided it was time to invest in a better pair. I am very excited about the Roatan by Keen. We’ve had a lot of Keen shoes in the last few years, and they have all held up well.

These are light weight and quick drying, as water shoes should be, but they still have a pretty firm sole for walking. You could actually probably get away with these for daily wear, and they are stylish enough that you will want to.

The other great thing is that my daughter loved them the minute she saw them and wanted to wear them immediately. She has also started carrying them around the house with her. So, I guess they were a good investment. Importantly, they seem to stay on her feet.

The big test will be our trip to the water park next weekend, but I am very confident in these shoes. You can buy a pair for $34 at zappos.com. There are lots of fun colors to choose from, and they are also available in youth and adult sizes.

With summer here, I have been looking for a replacement for my messy sand and water table, and I think I just found it. The Knuffieland Water System is designed to please both parents and kids. I know that both of my kids will love to play with this thing. What I am excited about is that it requires no assembly (which is virtually unheard of these days), and that it is guaranteed to be leak proof.

The set includes 22 pieces total. It comes with two boats, a water way, a water paddle (to make a current for the boats), and a crane to lift the boats into the air. At 38” x 24” it is big enough for children to enjoy, but not a huge clutter-causer. You can buy one for $82 at algrashopping.com.

If you’d prefer a drier boat themed baby toy, we have previously reviewed the Splash Barnacle Activity Boat.