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Creative Ways to Set up an Inflatable Kids Pool

Pools

Get the most out of your kid’s pool with these ideas

The obvious use for an inflatable kids' pool is to fill it with water and let your children play in it. However, it doesn't have to work that way. Their shape and size make them ideal for a variety of purposes, ranging from practical to just plain fun. You can transform them into just about anything, but there are some ways that work better than others. Once you know how to use them differently with these fun inflatable pool ideas, you can set them up in new and interesting ways you never imagined before.

Fill it with sand or dirt

An inflatable pool is a budget-friendly choice for transforming into a sandbox. To do this, inflate the pool fully and fill it up with clean sand. Add in any sandbox toys your little ones might enjoy. From there, just let your kid go wild. Plus, you can add water to the pool to make sandcastles since it won't leak. The edges are not sharp and help prevent your kids from becoming injured if they fall. Additionally, you can move the pool around, making this sandbox portable.

To add a little extra creativity, you can fill the pool with dirt for building and construction play. You can also set up a planned dinosaur dig activity where you bury toy bones or dinosaurs and then your kids can spend hours searching for artifacts with play excavation tools.

Use it as a garden planter

Using an inflatable pool with water keeps it a strictly outdoor play activity. But what about indoors? It’s easy to create a classic mini ball pit with brightly colored plastic balls filling your pool. It won't make a mess to clean up in your home and allows for entertaining sensory play for kids of all ages. Thanks to this simple solution, there’s no more wondering “how can I make a kiddie pool more fun?” If you prefer, you can use other toys and substances rather than plastic balls, such as.  soft blocks, plushies, packing peanuts and other non-messy objects. When your kid finishes playing, use the pool as a place to store toys and balls to corral them in your play area.

Create works of art

Speaking of mess, art projects can be very messy, especially for young kids. Since inflatable pools are waterproof, they’re easy to clean up, making them ideal arts and crafts stations for numerous sorts of projects. Use them as a place to dye or paint clothing for older kids or as a finger-painting pit for youngsters. The pool itself can be a place for kids to paint works of art that wash clean if you use water-soluble paint and markers. This fun solution contains any art-related mess for simple or no cleanup, even inside your home.

Fun with suds

Inflatable pools work great for fun with foamy soapsuds. Or use the pool as a place to make bubbles, either with a shallow layer of bubble mix to dip wands into or as a place to fill with nontoxic foam. You can even add soap to the plastic balls in your inflatable pool ball pit for extra slippery sensory play or games.

When it's clean-up time, an inflatable pool works well for kids and pets. Use it as a place to wash off dirty toys and clothes before they go back into the house. If the kids themselves are messy, wash them off outdoors in the pool. You can use it as a wash station for pets as well if Fido has gotten a little stinky lately.

Kick back and relax

Inflatable pools offer soft edges and cushy support, so they work well as a makeshift nap or rest space. Fill them with blankets, pillows or other padding so that you can sprawl out or curl up in comfort. Lie back at night to watch the stars while keeping cozy or put on a movie on your outdoor TV for a backyard movie night. You can also set a romantic mood with string lights, and a glass or two of your favorite beverages. You can enjoy the feel of getting away from it all in the comfort of a blow-up pool.

Inflatable kids' pools are fun on their own, but they have so much potential for another level of enjoyment. They offer an inexpensive place to play, relax and create, regardless of your space constraints. Pick the right toys and pool accessories for your inflatable pool, then start getting imaginative. With these creative ways to set up an inflatable pool, you can experience new fun projects and activities this summer and beyond.