When my kids were younger, I told my husband I wanted to buy a sprinkler for them to use to play water games. He agreed and said he’d pick one up on the way home from work. I thanked him and then got serious. “OK,” I said. “This is the kind you need to buy.” I specifically wanted one of the sprinklers that sprays water into the air in a fan shape and oscillates from side to side. You know what I’m talking about? I have a picture of my brother and me jumping over one in my grandparents’ yard.
He bought the correct sprinkler and my boys loved it as much as I thought they would. Now, if I had allowed it, I think they gladly would have spent entire summers in the air-conditioned house watching TV or playing video games. Obviously, I didn’t want that, but it sure is hot outside. That’s why summers are meant to be spent playing in and with water. Some of the best summer memories you can make as a child include playing with water. There’s something about water games that brings out excitement and playfulness, even in big kids. This summer, cool off and play hard with these 5 water games for kids.
1. Water Balloon Liftoff
This water game is similar to the parachute activity from P.E. class, but don’t fret if you don’t have a giant parachute lying around. Take a sheet and spread it out on the ground. If you can spare it, cut a six-inch hole in the center. Have everyone stand around it, grab a corner or edge, and lift. Toss a water balloon in the center and start waving the sheet up and down to see how high the balloon will go. Keep it away from the hole and watch out for tree limbs above!
2. Kiddie Pool Penny Plunge
Fill a kiddie pool, give your kids pennies, and have them stand around the perimeter. Have them toss the pennies into the pool, then take a step back. As they get farther and farther from the pool’s edge, making it in the water will become trickier. Add a degree of difficulty and have them turn around and toss it over their heads. The winner gets to cool off in the water first!
3. Water Balloon Wiffle Ball
Batter up! Use a plastic Wiffle Ball bat and water balloons for balls. If you don’t fill the balloons too tightly, you can actually hit them without bursting them. Up the ante by giving the outfielders full balloons to throw at the runners as they round the bases—and add a Slip ‘N Slide on the stretch between third base and home plate.
4. Drip Drip Splash
This is a variation of duck, duck, goose. Sit in a circle. The standing person holds a cup of water. While walking around the circle, the standing person says “drip” while he or she flicks water on each person seated in the circle. Then, the standing person says “splash” and pours the entire cup on a chosen person. The race is then on to get around the circle and sit down before being caught. No one escapes this one dry. Trust me.
5. Water Limbo
How low can you go? Turn on your water hose and increase the pressure by partially covering the opening with your thumb. Shoot a stream of water horizontally to use as your limbo stick. For each turn, lower the water. Crank up the music and see who can get the lowest.
What are some of your kids’ favorite water games?
