There is no better way to kick off summer than with some exciting water games! Whether the sun is scorching or the temperatures are rising, water games are the perfect solution to keep kids active, entertained, and refreshed throughout the entire season. So, dust off those swimsuits, slather on some sunscreen, and prepare for a splashing good time! In this article, we've curated a collection of 40+ thrilling water games that are guaranteed to make your summer an unforgettable one.
Balancing Act
Test your balancing skills and avoid a splashy surprise! Grab all four corners of a sheet and try to bounce a water balloon on it. Keep the balloon from dropping, or you'll have a watery surprise at your feet.
Blind Taste Test
Refreshing and fun, this game will tickle your taste buds! Blindfold the kids and have them guess the flavors of summer. From flavored waters to fresh fruits and veggies, challenge their taste buds and keep them hydrated on a hot day.
Cup by Cup
It's a teamwork challenge! Divide into teams and sit in a line facing forward. Fill a plastic cup with water from the bucket at the front of the line and pass it over your head to the person behind you. The last person pours the water into the bucket in front of them, and the cup continues its journey. The team that fills their bucket first wins!
DIY Slip n’ Slide
Get ready for some slippery fun! Head to a discount store and grab a plastic tablecloth. Secure it to the ground with tent stakes. Add water, take a running start, and zoom down the slide!
Drip, Drip, Drop
It's time for a refreshing version of Duck, Duck, Goose! Gather in a circle and have someone drip water from a cup onto people's heads. When they choose someone to "dunk," they pour the water on their head. The "dunkee" must get up and chase the "dunker." Get ready to cool off with a splashing pursuit!
Frozen Fingers
Brace yourselves for a chilly competition! Split into two teams and pass an ice cube down the line. The goal is to melt the ice cube completely before the other team. Get ready for frosty fingers!
Hit the Mark
Time to become a water-sport pro! Float upside-down Frisbees in a small kiddie pool and take aim with sponges. Can you hit the targets? Show off your throwing skills and make a splash!
Jug Catch
Test your tossing and catching skills with a splashy twist! Cut plastic milk gallon jugs in half and place a water balloon inside. Toss the balloon gently to another person to catch. Be careful, or you might end up with a splat!
Kiddie Car Wash
Design and build your very own adorable kiddie car wash! Get creative with PVC pipes and hook up a hose to have water spraying from many directions. Kids will enjoy taking their ride-on cars through the ultimate car wash experience.
Pass the Water
Have kids stand in a line and hold an empty cup. The person in front will have a set amount of water. Raise the cup over their head and empty it into the cup of the person behind them. See how much water can make it to the end without spilling!
Ping-Pong Pool
Time to make a splash! Toss an inflatable inner tube into the pool and aim to toss small balls into the center of the ring. Can you hit the bullseye?
Pool Noodle Boat Racing
Half the fun is making the boat! Use a pool noodle, pencil, cardboard, and straw to assemble the boat. Float it in a bin and use the straw to blow the boat across the water. Get ready for a thrilling race!
Spell Your Name or Squirt the Letter
Grab a squirt bottle or water blaster and get ready for some watery alphabet fun! Have your kids squirt the letters onto the pavement. Older children can challenge themselves by spelling their names or other words. Let the water writing begin!
Sponge Bulls-Eye!
Get your aim on point with this water game! Paint target circles on the ground with different point amounts. Grab some large, soaked sponges and try to hit the targets. The wet spots will reveal your score!
Sponge Toss
Let the wet and wild fun begin! Cut up cheap sponges, bundle them together with rubber bands, and form a ball-like shape. Soak the sponges and toss them to each other. Get ready for a splash when you catch one!
Sprinkler Limbo
Add a twist to sprinkler fun by letting children play sprinkler limbo. Take turns trying to make it under the sprinkler without getting wet. How low can you go without getting hosed?
Squirt Blaster Races
Get ready for a wet and wild race! Create a lane using PVC rain gutters and place rubber duckies or plastic bath toys at the starting point. On your mark, get set, squirt! Use water blasters to propel your toys to the other end of the lane. Will you be the fastest squirter?
Sprinkler Twister
Take the classic game of Twister to the next level! Roll out the giant plastic mat and add a sprinkler for some slippery fun. Reach from left-hand-yellow to right-foot-blue, but be careful not to slip and slide!
Squirt Gun Water Race
Beat the heat and avoid summer boredom with squirt gun races. Create a racecourse using string and plastic cups. Use water guns to move the cups along the string. Race against friends and see who will be the fastest squirter!
Sponge Bomb Monkey in the Middle
Monkey in the Middle gets a refreshing twist! Use a sponge bomb to soak the players in this game. Toss and catch the sponge bomb, and enjoy a little splash of water as a reward.
Tinfoil River
Create a flowing adventure with tinfoil! Shape a long river with angled sides using a roll of tinfoil. Gather boats or rubber duckies and watch them float down the stream. Keep them afloat by angling the sides of the foil. Let the water journey begin!
Toe Diving
Dive into the fun with just your toes! Fill a kiddie pool with water and toss in diving rings or small pool toys. When you say "Go," everyone must use their toes to retrieve as many toys as possible. Get those toes wiggling and start diving!
Toy Wishy-Washy Station
It's cleaning time for water-safe toys! Fill a deep tray or plastic storage bin with warm, soapy water, and another one with clear water for rinsing. Let the kids try their hand at cleaning with toothbrushes, sponges, and more. They'll enjoy playing grown-up while giving their toys a squeaky-clean makeover!
Ultimate Sprinkler
Prepare for a wet and wild adventure! Create a giant sprinkler by connecting four equal-size PVC pipes with corner connectors and a hose connector. Drill small holes in the pipe to make water spray everywhere. Hook up the hose and get ready to cool off!
Watermelon Eating Contest
Beat the summer heat with a juicy watermelon eating contest! Cut watermelons into slices and see who can eat their slice the fastest without using their hands. Get ready for sticky faces and lots of laughter!
Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest
Channel your inner farmer with a watermelon seed spitting contest. Each participant gets a slice of watermelon and must spit the seeds as far as possible. Measure the distance and crown the seed spitting champion!
Water Balloon Dodgeball
Fill up a bunch of water balloons and head outside for a fun game of water balloon dodgeball. Play on teams or go everyone against everyone. Stay cool while dodging and throwing water balloons!
Water Balloon Fun
Water balloons can be tons of fun! Have an old-fashioned water balloon fight to cool off. Toss them into the air and watch them splatter at your feet. Enjoy hours of soaking fun!
Water Balloon Jousting
Attach water balloons to a piece of styrofoam and build a jousting rod out of a pool noodle. Poke the balloons and enjoy a cool splash as they burst. Get ready for a wet and exciting jousting battle!
Water Balloon Piñatas
Hang water balloons of different sizes and let kids try to burst them with a plastic bat. For an added challenge, blindfold the participants. It's a splashing good time!
Water Balloon Hot Potato
Gather the kids in a circle and have them pass around a water balloon while music plays. When the music stops, whoever is holding the balloon gets splashed with it! Keep the game going until there's only one dry player left.
Water Balloon Ring Toss
Create small rings using pool noodles and set them up outside. Take turns tossing water balloons into the rings. Make different-sized rings for an added challenge. Aim, throw, and splash!
Water Balloon Target Practice
Set up a chalk-drawn target on the concrete and take turns aiming and throwing water balloons at it. Keep score to make it more exciting. Get ready to hit the target and make a splash!
Water Baseball
Use water balloons instead of baseballs and plastic bats to enjoy a wet twist on America's favorite pastime. Swing, hit, and run the bases if you burst the balloon. It's baseball with a refreshing twist!
Water Bucket Race
Get ready for a splashing competition! Divide into teams and line up facing each other. Each person gets a bucket or a big red Solo cup filled with water. Carefully transfer the water from one bucket to the next without spilling. The team with the most water left wins the race!
Water Limbo
Get ready to limbo your way through the water! One person holds the hose while participants try to limbo underneath without getting wet. If you feel a splash, you're out until the next game. How low can you go?
Water Letter Painting
Give your kids a cup of water and a paintbrush. Let them practice writing their letters, numbers, and sight words, or even solve math problems. It's painting with water for endless fun!
Water Obstacle Course
Get adventurous and create your own water obstacle course using pool noodles, water hoses, and other materials. Practice running through it multiple times and try to beat your previous time. Get ready to conquer the watery challenges!
Water Play Table
Set up a water play table indoors or outdoors. Let your little ones play with cups, bowls, strainers, and other items found in your kitchen. Add a few drops of food coloring to make the water even more exciting!
Water Sensory Bin
Create a water sensory bin to show the effects of water pollution. Let kids play in the bin and pick out items that are harmful to the water. It's a fun way to learn about environmental care while enjoying water play.
Water Wall
Design and build a water wall for outdoor play. Let kids help create the design and then pour water into the top, watching it flow down the structure into an awaiting bucket. It's a captivating and interactive water play activity.
With these 40+ water games, you'll have plenty of options to keep your kids entertained and cool all summer long. So gather your water toys, round up the neighborhood kids, and get ready for a splashing adventure that will create memories to last a lifetime! Stay hydrated, have fun, and make the most of the sunny days ahead.
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