[Enjoy Summer to the Fullest] Roundup of Toys and the Newest Gadgets for Playing in the Pool
When it comes to summer and hot weather, pool play is the perfect activity!
If you’re at a theme park or in your backyard thinking, “Now, what should we do?” you’ve probably landed on this article for that very reason.
So this time, we’ve rounded up toys and ideas for having fun in the pool!
From timeless classics to the latest water-play gear, we’ll introduce a wide range of options.
We’ve got videos, too, so you’ll know exactly how to play.
Use this as your guide, and enjoy an amazing summer with family and friends!
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[Enjoy Summer] Roundup of Pool Toys and the Newest Gadgets (1–10)
giant beach ball
If you’re bored with ordinary beach balls, why not try having fun with a giant beach ball for a change? Giant beach balls come in sizes that can completely hide a child standing behind them, all the way up to ones big enough to hide an adult.
While it’s tricky to play volleyball with them like you would with standard beach balls, try rolling them around on the water or by the poolside.
Just be sure to take extra care not to bother people around you since they’re so large!
electric water gun
It’s the era of electric water guns! Want to experience the refreshing thrill of a super cool electric water gun? Traditional water guns often lack power, make it hard to see how much water is left, and don’t always look that cool.
But go electric and the power is far greater than a regular water gun—you’ll feel like you’re firing water bullets.
Many models also show the remaining water on a digital display, and their looks are as cool as a real rifle.
It’s a must-have that makes not only kids, but adults want to play too.
Underwater RC (radio-controlled)
For those who want to play with their beloved RC toys even in the water, underwater RC models are a great choice.
There are various products, including amphibious types, ones shaped like submarines, and even shark-shaped models.
They can get quite pricey, but there are also underwater drones with cameras that let you enjoy the water in a whole new way.
Playing in the pool with your favorite vehicles or sea creatures sounds like guaranteed fun, right? Just like when playing on land, setting up various obstacles in the pool makes it even more enjoyable.
[Enjoy Summer to the Fullest] Roundup of Pool Toys and the Newest Gadgets (11–20)
funny inflatable swim ring
Even though we call them all “float rings,” they’re not just the standard donut-shaped ones.
There are all sorts of creatively designed floaties on the market, and they’ve gone beyond being just something to float on and play with.
For example, ones shaped like pizza, flip-flops, or fruit don’t have holes, so you can lie on top of them and glide across the pool.
Others are shaped like horses or motorcycles and are the type you ride as if they were the real thing.
There are also ones you can ride with two or more people, and some can even shoot water.
With so many varieties, it’s hard to choose just one!
toy goldfish scooping
Why not enjoy a classic festival goldfish scooping game at home? All you need is an inflatable pool, toy goldfish to scoop, scooping tools like poi nets, and some containers.
Be sure to use toy goldfish, not real ones.
Fill the inflatable pool with water, float the toy goldfish, and you’re ready to scoop! Compete with family or friends to see who can catch the most, or quietly scoop the floating fish at your own pace—enjoy this quintessential summer tradition right at home.
You can also play using a bucket, a large washbasin, or even an electric flowing somen (nagashi-somen) machine instead of the pool.
duck toy
You often see yellow ducks bobbing and floating in bathtubs, right? Why not have some fun in the pool with those yellow ducks too? Instead of just one, try floating a whole bunch in an inflatable pool for a really eye-catching scene! Scooping up the ducks with a bucket or cup can be plenty of fun for little kids all by itself.
There are ducks in lots of colors besides yellow—like pink and green—so it’s also a great idea to collect different kinds.
There are plenty of water-play items with duck motifs as well, so be sure to check those out too.
color ball
Color balls, which are handy for everyday play, are also super useful for water play! You can float a bunch of them in an inflatable pool to make a real ball pool, toss them around while you’re in the water, or come up with all kinds of other games—highly recommended.
You can even find color balls at 100-yen shops, which makes them easy to get, and the best part is you can play with them all year round, even after pool season ends—great value! Try inventing new ways to play that are different from how you’d use them without water.