![[For Kids] Fun Pool Recreation Games](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/B5T92-TIjmU/maxresdefault.webp)
[For Kids] Fun Pool Recreation Games
When you think of summer, you think of the ocean, rivers, and pools!Playing in the water while feeling the blazing sun is so much fun, isn’t it?In this article, we’ll introduce tons of pool activities!Race against someone, compete in teams, or challenge your own limits.They’re all such fun games that you’ll have trouble choosing and time will fly by!There are activities that even small children can enjoy, so be sure to read to the end.
[For Kids] Fun Pool Recreation Games (1–10)
dodgeball
For kids, a classic sport has to be dodgeball! It’s a game where two teams split up and try to hit each other with the ball—whoever wipes out the opposing team wins.
A lot of people probably played it in big groups during lunchtime at school or after classes.
This time, let’s put a twist on dodgeball! Try playing while staying in the pool—you’ll definitely feel a fresh, new sensation that’s different from usual! Since it’s harder to move in water, it might also help narrow the gap between kids who are more and less skilled.
Farther with streamlined glides
In “Glide Far,” it’s fun to compete with friends! Without any crawl or flutter kicks—just simple streamline gliding—see how far you can go.
Distance matters, of course, but toward the end you’ll hardly be moving at all, so how long you can hold your breath also becomes a key factor in deciding the winner.
You can spice it up by doing team competitions or crowning a class champion—tweaking the rules in different ways is sure to make it exciting.
Underwater drawing
You might think, drawing underwater? But there are pens that are fine even when wet and notebooks with waterproof coating.
Kids love drawing, and more than anything, they’d be thrilled to draw with slightly unusual items or in a unique situation, right? It’s fun to draw together, and it also seems perfect for when the kids start getting bored in the pool at home.
You could give them a prompt and have them draw it—if there are many participants, that would really liven things up.
Water Gun Showdown
Speaking of pools, they make you want to play with water guns, don’t they? These days, you can find all kinds of water guns at home improvement stores and even 100-yen shops.
From small, one-handed types to ones you fire with both hands, and even bazooka-like models with big tanks you wear on your back—there are tons that kids would love.
Everyone can bring their favorite water gun and have an all-out battle! If you have a lot of people, team matches would make it even more exciting.
Water Balloon Battle
Water balloons—kids love them, don’t they? You can easily buy them at 100-yen shops, and these days there are even products that let you make a bunch at once.
Normally, you play carefully so you don’t get wet or pop them, but if you’re in a pool, you can toss them without worry, and it’s fine if they burst! Try playing catch or aiming games with water balloons.
Kids are so creative that they’ll surely come up with new ways to have fun that adults would never think of.
Breath-holding challenge
Many adults probably did this when they were kids, too, right? It’s a simple game where you just go underwater and hold your breath to see how long you can last.
It’s very simple, but it really gets exciting.
Of course, the person who holds their breath the longest wins.
For kids who aren’t comfortable going underwater, you might start by practicing just putting their face in the water.
Turning it into a head-to-head contest and holding a tournament to decide the champion will definitely get everyone hyped!
crocodile walk
Even small children who can’t swim yet can enjoy “crocodile walking.” In a shallow pool, kneel and stand in the water.
From there, place your hands in front of you and get on all fours to take a crocodile-like posture.
At the signal to start, everyone moves at once and races to see who’s the fastest.
We recommend starting by racing with normal walking in the pool, then racing while squatting in a half-crouch, and finishing with crocodile walking.
Some young children may dislike getting water on their faces, so follow this order to help them get used to the water little by little.
It’s a lively, fun game everyone can play together.
rock-paper-scissors
In summer, you want to have fun by the water under the sun, right? Underwater rock-paper-scissors is just what it sounds like—you dive into the water and play rock-paper-scissors.
You can play with two people or a small group.
Even children who aren’t comfortable putting their faces in the water can enjoy giving it a try.
It’s really simple—just play rock-paper-scissors—but you can add variations, like gradually moving to deeper water, which sparks a sense of challenge and makes it more interesting.
All you have to do is go to the pool—no equipment needed—so it’s easy, fun, and highly recommended.
staring contest
The ocean and rivers are great, but pools are usually nearby, so they’re an easy way to enjoy playing in the water.
One recommended pool game is a staring contest; play it in pairs.
Whoever laughs loses.
It’s funny how being told not to laugh makes even little things hilarious, isn’t it? Just be careful not to swallow water if you laugh since you’re in the water, and make sure to play where you can stand.
If you’re playing with several people, splitting into teams and having a showdown is fun too.
Crawling through a tunnel
A pool game we definitely want you to try is “tunnel diving.” Have someone stand in the pool, then dive underwater and pass under their legs.
It’s especially recommended for young children who are still not confident going underwater.
Their swimming might improve dramatically over a single summer.
You can also make it a team challenge by increasing the number of people standing and competing to see how many “tunnels” you can pass through.
It’s a super easy pool recreation that lets kids grow while having fun.