Summer is approaching; we can look forward to a greater array of water games to play. These games offer great options for splashing and laughter while remaining cool with loved ones. Moreover, water games are also essential to keep people active and stay away from screen media, especially for kids. Thus, your mind gets fresh, and you spend quality time with family and friends.
Therefore, this blog is to share with you 10 out-of-the-box ideas for water games that people of all ages will enjoy. Additionally, we’ll also provide you with some useful tips for planning water games to have maximum fun while ensuring safety. So, keep reading!
Why water games are perfect for family fun
Water games are great for bonding with parents and kids! They are a source of enjoyment. Ensuring safe, responsible play, families can create unforgettable summer memories. Here is what makes water games a must-try for everyone:
Keep you active: Water games such as running, jumping, and splashing allow you to keep fit. Instead of sitting inside all day, you get to move, stretch, and have fun while playing. It’s like exercise but way more exciting!
Bring everyone together: Moreover, all members of the family can engage in water games! You can form teams, take breaks in between, and even shout for each other. Be it racing through sprinklers or tossing water balloons, you are bound to create awesome memories with your loved ones.
Boost creativity and skills: Additionally, those outdoor water games for kids and adults allow for endless creativity. Children can come up with their own rules and meet fun challenges. Gaming is a way to build kids’ confidence and develop their teamwork and social skills.
Takes you away from screens: Rather than using your phone or television, you can appreciate the great outdoors, bask in the sun, and engage in the fun of splashing. Thus, playing outside helps improve one’s mood and makes one feel refreshed.
Stay cool on hot days: Water games provide the best sources of entertainment during very hot weather. Splashing in water is a great way to stay cool, and you will be having so much fun that you won’t notice how hot it actually is outside.
Don’t need expensive stuff: Lastly, the best thing about playing water games is that setting up such games is easy. All you need is a sprinkler, a bucket of water, water balloons, and even a hose. Thus, there is no need for sophisticated equipment, just lots of fun with the family.
So, what are you waiting for? All you need to do is get water or any other supplies for fun, and you are ready to go.
Keep your kids active, cool, and entertained while reducing screen time.
5 Individual water games for kids
These below-mentioned wonderful solo water activities in yard are uncomplicated, incredibly fun, and excellent for keeping kids cool. Plus, in terms of water games for little ones, parental companionship and protection are necessary. Prepare to splash, enjoy, and make the most of every moment!
Ice Cube Treasure Hunt
- Best for: 4+
- Materials needed: Small toys or coins, an ice cube tray, and water.
- How to play:
Put a small toy or coin into each part of the ice cube tray, then cover them with water and freeze overnight. After freezing, take the ice cubes outside, and the fun can begin! Use your hands, the heat of the sun, or a cup of warm water to release the treasures! Pouring warm water can speed things up!
Why it’s good: A perfect and easy backyard water game for little kids. They can tantalize their brains while solving this riddle! There is a reward to be grabbed, so figuring out the best method to melt the ice quickly will surely be worth it.
Slip and Slide
- Best for: 5+
- Materials needed: A plastic tarp, a garden hose, and soap (optional).
- How to play:
Start by laying the tarp in the yard, then sprinkle a bit of garden hose water on it. For a rapid slide, add a bit of soap to the movement. Now, take a running start, dive onto the tarp, and slide across. Wow, look at that, you made it to the finish line. You can even try different sliding techniques for extra fun.
Why it’s good: You get to glide across the water and feel the rush of grinding at whooping speeds. On top of that, it is a top-notch approach to staying cool.
Bubble Bonanza
- Best for: 5+
- Materials needed: Soap, a bucket, straws, and water.
- How to play:
Fill a bucket with water, then pull the straws out and dip the other end into soap. Now, it’s time for the blowing part. So, use the straw to blow into the soapy water and boom One giant bubble. Why stop there? make it the biggest bubble imaginable! Do you want to make it supremely harder? Try pouring water onto the bubbles and see how long they last before popping.
Why it’s good: If you’re a fan of bubbling, you will flip over this one. The Popping, splashing, and floating add an extra layer of fun.
Sponge Bullseye
- Best for: 6+
- Materials needed: A few sponges, a bucket of water, and some chalk
- How to play:
Use chalk to mark a big target on a wall or on the ground. Stand a distance away and soak a sponge with water. Sponge throwing should aim for the center of the target for maximum points. Moreover, if you want to increase difficulty. Then take a step back after each round!
Why it’s good: You know aimed target practice will never get boring! Not to mention, throwing a soaked sponge on a scorching hot day feels incredibly refreshing.
Target Water Balloons
- Best for: 5+
- Materials needed: A target such as a hula hoop or bucket and fully filled balloons.
- How to play:
From a certain distance, aim the balloons at the selected target. For an extra challenge, move the target farther for every successful throw.
Why it’s good: Practicing aim while getting the pleasurable feel of exploding water balloons is so much fun!
5 Team-based water games for kids
Water games become even more enjoyable with friends. Get ready to burst into laughter, get drenched, and create unforgettable memories this summer!
Water Relay Race
- Best for: 6+
- Materials needed: Two buckets, plastic cups, and water.
- How to play:
Each team is situated on either side of the yard. Each team has an empty bucket, while a full bucket of water is placed on the other end. Then, players take turns filling a cup, running to their empty bucket, pouring the water in, and passing the cup to the next teammate. Finally, the first team to fill their bucket wins.
Why it’s good: The competitive spirit of it because it is fast-paced, team-driven, and exciting! It’s the race to fill the bucket first that keeps people on their toes.
Water Balloon Dodgeball
- Best for: 5+
- Materials needed: A generous amount of water balloons.
- How to play:
Split into two teams and stand at opposite ends of the yard. Then, grab a set amount of water balloons and split them evenly between each team’s side of the yard. When the game starts, one team throws the water balloon at the other while the other team tries to dodge the flying balloons. The last team standing wins.
Why it’s good: It’s really fun and energetic. The blend of aiming, dodging, getting splashed, and the thrill of being in the summertime makes this game a favourite.
Drip, Drip, Splash
- Best for: 5+
- Materials needed: A cup of water
- How to play:
This game follows the pattern of Duck, Duck, Goose but with water! It involves saying Drip, Drip, Drip and water and when they say splash, they pour the rest of the water on someone’s head and start running. The splashed player has to chase and tag the person who splashed her. Once they do, they swap roles.
Why it’s good: Waiting to get soaked is super funny and exciting.
Wet Sponge Tag
- Best for: 6+
- Materials needed: Several big wet sponges.
- How to play:
One player is “It” and has a soaking wet sponge. They chase other players while trying to tag someone by touching them with the sponge. If you get tagged, you become the new “It,” and start chasing the others!
Why it’s good: It is a fun twist on the regular tag and being splashed with water is even better in the summer heat!
Water Gun Battle
- Best for: 8+
- Materials needed: Water guns or any sprayer.
- How to play:
Split into two teams and create a “base” for each side. The goal is to soak the other team while keeping as dry as possible. Run for cover and blast away water at your opponents. The team with the driest players at the end wins!
Why it’s good: This fast-paced game is full of thrilling moments, strategy, and surprise turns. The action definitely keeps coming, and who doesn’t love getting wet?
Planning a water game for maximum fun
Keep in mind that you cannot start laughing and splashing around without properly planning your water game. Planning is essential to keep safe in games. Ensure you have everything you need and make the fun last all day.
1. Selecting a safe and right location: You have to choose the right location for playing water games with your friends or kids. For instance, your backyard, the beach, or parks work wonderfully as game venues.
Moreover, ensure the ground is clear of any potential dangers like pointy stones, holes, or other items that may be hazardous. While playing on concrete, ensure that it isn’t dangerously slippery. Apart from all, choose a location away from sharp rocks whilst ensuring that there is a water source nearby.
2. Selecting an age-appropriate game: Additionally, make sure to select a game that fits your child perfectly when it comes to difficulty level! Some games require coordination and judgment that younger kids may not have.
- For toddlers and preschoolers: Stick to gentler activities like sponge relay races, splash pads, or ice cube treasure hunts.
- For older kids and adults: More competitive games like Slip-and-Slide races, water balloon games, or obstacle courses work well.
3. Gather your gear and supplies: Make sure that you have all the required materials before gaming. For instance, choose a swimsuit that allows you easy movement, and water shoes permit runners to chase without the risk of slipping.
Besides all, we would suggest you bring plenty of drinking water to prevent dehydration and prepare sunscreen for skin protection. Finally, have a towel and a change of clothes to keep dry after the game.
Other Precautions
- Always have a guardian or parent accompany the kids playing.
- Avoid water wastage and minimize plastic waste. If you use water balloons, don’t forget to clean up the broken pieces after the game so they do not create a mess.
- Do not forget post-game cleanup and aftercare. You should pack up your stuff and dry off, and be ready to help clean up.
Tips for involving kids in the outdoor game process
Games are exciting, but everything becomes even better when kids also lend a hand! Engagement in planning, setting up, and cleaning up activities allows kids to acquire teamwork and hands-on skills, and increases their sense of responsibility. Moreover, it also helps build enthusiasm toward the activities. So, let’s get started!
i) Involve kids in preparation and setup
The setup is equally as enjoyable as the playing! Kids can create their very own game space and determine the rules. Setting caps, collars, and goals or filling buckets or water balloons makes kids feel like game leaders. Moreover, they can add personal favorite touches to it, which will make the game far more enjoyable.
ii) Teach responsibility with clean up
After the fun activities, take time to relax, but don’t leave a mess! The process of putting away toys, drying off, and cleaning the remains of broken water balloons teaches responsibility. When everybody helps, it takes no time at all to complete the task!
iii) Limit their online time and promote outdoor activities
Outdoor water games for kids and adults are a fantastic way to stay active, beat the heat, and strengthen family bonds. Parents should assist their children in controlling screen time if necessary. When it comes to kids, I would recommend you use the FlashGet Kids app. This parental control app would help you monitor your kid’s daily phone use, set screen time limits, and block certain apps in a respectful way.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, we must say that family time can truly be spent in an enjoyable way with water activities! You can run, splash, and cool off on hot days. These activities are physically engaging while also being a screen break that promotes creativity and imagination. So get everyone in the family, set up a game, and start playing. Thus, enjoy your fun moments together.
