As soon as they get the hang of walking, toddlers seem to find great joy in filling, hauling, and dumping buckets of stuff. That joy does not fade quickly–preschoolers and even school aged kids have been known to haul a bucket now and again. These utilitarian devices are ideal heavy work play props. They can also be used in many common play schemas–transporting, scattering, enclosing, trajectory, and positioning, for example.

Selecting Buckets

Cheap plastic pails are readily available, but they quickly disappoint as play props. They crack, or the handle snaps off, almost immediately after making their first appearance in the play space. This doesn’t deter kids from using them–many of the cheap plastic containers in the photos below are missing their handles. There are durable plastic buckets on the market. They cost a bit more, but are worth the investment if plastic is what you want. Farm supply stores are a good place to shop for them–and all other quality buckets.

Metal buckets are generally a more durable option, but buyer beware–quality varies. For example, many options available on Amazon are made for display and don’t hold water. I’ve also had some arrive with sharp edges. Your best bet is to do your metal bucket shopping in person at a hardware or farm supply store. Opt for galvanized steel whenever possible. Galvanized metal is less likely to rust.

My experience is that the all around best play pails are made of something called corded rubber. These buckets are super durable and weather resistant. They’ll stand up to years of active child-led play. Here’s one I like (affiliate link). The downside is size. These buckets can be a bit big for toddlers and smaller preschoolers.

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