Does anything scream summertime like sprinklers? Whether or not you have a swimming pool at home, sprinklers are a fun way to cool the kids off on hot summer days and keep them occupied outdoors as the weather heats up. More:The Best Water Toys for Kids This Summer
Our Top Picks
Best Major Splurge: Giant Inflatable Water SlideBest Educational Pick: SplashEZ 3-In-1 Sprinkler Splash PadBest Easy Attachment: Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Pretty Petals SprinklerBest Interactive Fun: Kidoozie Crazy Caterpillar SprinklerBest Inflatable Sprinkler: BigMouth Giant Giraffe SprinklerBest Trampoline Sprinkler: ARTBECK Trampoline SprinklerBest For Toddlers: Kids Sprinkler Fire Hydrant
What to Consider When Purchasing A Sprinkler
Durability: Especially if you plan on investing in something more pricey, you’ll want it to withstand the often rough ‘n tough attitude of kids in the summertime. Price: The price range can be fairly wide in this department, and there may be some cases where the item at a low price point falls flat. Safety: Depending on the age of your little one, you’ll want to make sure the sprinkler is an age-appropriate choice, especially if it’s more interactive than just running through water. Functionality: Is this something that needs to be regularly inflated or maintained by an adult? Or is it more low-maintenance and easy for the kids to use?
How We Chose Our Favorites
This pick is definitely on the pricey side, and for good reason! This massive slide is 14-feet long, 10-feet wide, and 8-feet tall, so there will definitely be no shortage of space if you have more than one kid splashing around. It takes less than two minutes to set up your water park, and comes with a built in basketball hoop and inflatable basketball, over head sprinkler, and water spraying wave. And of course, the material is ultra durable to stand up against even the rowdiest of kiddos. “It’s super easy to set up and really does inflate in less than 2 minutes. The kids love it.” Make learning a blast this summer with this 3-in-1 option, which functions as a sprinkler for kids, splash pad, and wading kiddie pool. This innovative pool will not only give your little ones some relief from the heat, but they’ll dive into learning their colors, countries, and ABCs. And there’s plenty of room for parents to get in on the splish-splashin’, too! This educational pool is 60” in diameter, and encourages meaningful development through emotional, cognitive, and social growth. “Perfect for a warm day in the backyard. Once the outer tube is full, you can turn the water way down and it still makes a great sprinkler to run through.”
It couldn’t be easier to get outside and start enjoying the warm weather! This whimsical option from Melissa & Doug features 12 pink flowers on a green base which each squirt water, made from a durable material that’s fun for the whole family once attached to the garden hose. Not only does this encourage active outdoor play, but it can also aid in developing coordination and water the garden, too! “My two year old loves this! Worked great right out of the box. Turned the water up high and the sprinkler handled great. Lots of spray shooting way up there (the kids loved it).” Especially if you have more than one child who will be playing, you’ll want a way to keep them both entertained during water play hour. Featuring eight crazy wiggling legs that will spray water in every direction, your little ones will have a blast jumping around to catch (or miss) the stream of water. Even better, there’s nothing complicated about setting this kids sprinkler up. Simply screw it on to any standard garden hose and enjoy this fun lawn sprinkler in minutes. “This little sprinkler is a great deal! My 3 year old loves the wiggly arms and I was pleasantly surprised with how high/far it manages to send the water, considering it’s pretty small. We’ve only had it for a few weeks but so far it seems sturdy and like it will hold up. It’s easy to set up and use since you just screw it right on to the end of the hose.”
You’d almost think you were on a real safari with this 9-feet tall inflatable giraffe in your yard! This water sprinkler inflates and deflates with BigMouth’s BIG Easy Valve, and couldn’t be easier to wipe down or clean up when you need to. Despite the size, it doesn’t take long to inflate, and delivers a solid, even spray. Not a fan of the giraffe? Check out the ape, pink elephant, magical unicorn, or classic unicorn sprinkler for more fun! “Awesome product! Quick & easy to setup if you have an air pump. Comes with small patch. Multiple water streams shoot wide and far!” Take the backyard fun to another level with this trampoline sprinkler! Not only is it a fun way to get out plenty of energy, but this can also reduce the temperature on the trampoline by 25 degrees. Each package comes with an easy to install 39-foot misting line, cable ties, double-sided tape, and a spare water pipe interface. Simply attach the water pipe on the outside of the trampoline net with a cable tie, attach the hose to the water pipe, and enjoy all of the outdoor fun on a hot day! “I don’t have a bad word to say about this water mat my son loves it! It’s easy to use and pretty self explanatory you just connect it to a water pipe and fill it up.” Your kids won’t be able to stop laughing at this fire hydrant sprinkler, which spins and sprays water everywhere, including up to 8-feet in the air! Splashy attaches easily to any garden hose and stands about 8” tall. “I didn’t have very high expectations because of my previous sprinkler toys but this one blew me away. We put it in my backyard and it was so powerful the water was able to reach my front yard! We didn’t have any problems at all. It was easy to set up, easy to use and the best part…. it didn’t repeatedly fall over! This kept my son entertained for hours.”
