[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 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.
watering can
A watering can, which you use to water flowers, is also a perfect item for water play.
Fill it with water and sprinkle it over yourself or people around you like a shower, or water the flowers while you play… You could even come up with new games using a watering can! There are many small, lightweight watering cans that are easy for children to hold, so choose one that suits your child’s age and preferences.
If you’re unsure which water-play toy to pick, why not start with a simple, easy-to-use watering can?
sponge
Let’s have fun with water using sponges—the same ones that are so handy for washing dishes and cleaning! Sponges float on water, so even small children can easily play by setting them afloat or soaking them and giving them a good squeeze.
You can also cut sponges into your favorite shapes, like sea creatures, and draw faces on them to make it feel like you’re swimming together with the animals.
Another idea: make slits in three or so sponges and fasten them together with a rubber band to create a spiky ball shape.
Enjoy all kinds of water play with sponges!
fountain toy
There are toy fountains that let you enjoy the kind you see in parks right in your home pool! Some compact models float on the water, draw it in automatically, and spray it out like a fountain, letting you easily enjoy the gentle plume of water.
There are also products where water shoots out like a fountain from a mat as big as a vinyl pool.
Little kids can have fun with a cute, compact fountain, and as they get bigger, they can enjoy summer pool time with a larger fountain!
water balloon
Let’s have fun in the pool using water balloons like the ones you see at festival stalls! You can fill them with air or water and let them float around, or make them into the classic yo-yo type you often see at festivals—there are lots of ways to play.
If you fill them with just water and throw them at each other like a snowball fight, the balloons will burst mid-throw and soak everyone—a perfect summer game.
Along the same lines, you can also try tossing them at a target, like a strikeout game.
Small but versatile, they’re an all-around fun item with endless play possibilities.
bamboo water gun
A bamboo water gun offers a different sensation from ordinary water guns.
Common water guns are typically pistol-shaped, where water is released by pulling the trigger, or pump-action types that squirt water.
Water guns made of bamboo operate in a way similar to pump-action models, shooting the water contained inside.
Bamboo water guns are available as finished products, and also as kits you can assemble yourself.
It’s not very difficult to make one from scratch by cutting bamboo, either—why not try making one as a summer memory?
toy water wheel
Let’s play with water using a toy waterwheel that generates electricity with water! Some are designed with various characters like Anpanman, which makes them especially exciting for kids.
The rotating part is shaped like small buckets, and when you pour water into them, the weight of the water makes the wheel spin.
To keep it spinning continuously, you need to keep pouring water from the same spot.
Try using a watering can or a cup to pour the water.
Watching it whirl around is so much fun—your child will be completely absorbed!
In conclusion
I think it was all toys you can play with boisterously. And of course, you can enjoy the ones introduced here at the beach, in rivers, or even in the bath! To make the most of summer and the hot season, be sure to prepare a variety of things!