Perfect for summer: Fun at the pool and water spots! Water play games
When it comes to summer childcare, water play is a must.
Here, we’ll introduce fun games and activities that kids can enjoy at the pool, the beach, or the river.
There are plenty of ways for children who can’t swim to have fun, too—like games with water balloons and races using swim rings.
There are lots of activities that make for wonderful summer memories when enjoyed with friends.
Even kids who aren’t fond of water may grow to love the pool by the end of summer if they get used to it little by little through play.
Use this as a guide and be sure to try these ideas when you head to the beach or the river!
Perfect for summer: Fun at the pool and water spots! Water play games (1–10)
Underwater 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.
Underwater Rock-Paper-Scissors Game
Rather than a game, it’s more like the rock-paper-scissors you do when deciding something.
This activity is about playing that rock-paper-scissors underwater.
Because rock-paper-scissors is such a simple game, you can add your own original rules and expand the ways to play.
It might be a bit challenging for children who aren’t comfortable putting their faces in the water or diving, but it could also serve as gradual practice.
How about starting with something simple, like letting the winner of rock-paper-scissors get out of the water first?
Bubble play
Foam play is perfect for a July event.
Prepare a pool or a large basin so the children can have a blast.
Once you make the foam, use a whisk or a stick with rounded ends to mix it.
The mixing process is so fun that both adults and children will be totally absorbed! It’s also recommended to add color to the foam to make “juice,” pour it into plastic bottles, and turn it into a pretend juice shop.
Please be careful to prevent accidental ingestion, such as putting foam in the mouth, and enjoy playing safely!
[Craft] Water gun with a plastic bottle
![[Craft] Water gun with a plastic bottle](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XL8qCdtXFIw/sddefault.jpg)
One activity that’s great for pool play is using a water gun made from plastic bottles.
To make one, prepare two plastic bottles.
Cut one bottle around the halfway point and use the mouthpiece side.
For the other bottle, cut it a bit closer to the mouth than halfway, and again use the mouthpiece side.
To prevent injuries, it’s a good idea to tape over the cut edges on both pieces.
Remove the cap from the bottle you cut second, and insert it into the first bottle.
On the first bottle’s cap, poke several holes so water can spray out.
Your plastic-bottle water gun is complete! By changing how you make the holes in the cap, you can vary the way the water comes out.
Dance swimming
Let me introduce “dance swimming,” which is all about dancing in the pool.
It’s like an easy, casual version of synchronized swimming.
As you move to the music and have fun dancing, your swimming naturally improves.
One precaution: for safety, always do it where you can stand.
It’s fun with a few people, but it also sounds great as a team competition with a large group, taking turns to dance-swim.
You can imagine what kind of music to use, what the choreography might look like, even high-difficulty synchronized moves while floating—this activity really sparks the imagination.
Water play with a vacuum/compression bag
Introducing a cool summer activity using vacuum storage bags for futons and clothes! All you need to do is fill the bag with water—just enough so it doesn’t get overstuffed.
When you touch the water-filled bag, you’ll enjoy a squishy, bouncy sensation, and standing on it barefoot feels great thanks to the coolness of the water.
Lie down on it and it feels even better! Vacuum storage bags are stronger than regular plastic bags, so it’s fine for kids to hop on them.
If you draw some fish and slip the drawings inside before adding water, it’ll feel like you’re playing with fish—as if you’re in the ocean or a river!
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.
Underwater Coin Drop Game
How about trying the “Underwater Coin Drop Game” you often see at summer festivals? Fill a large fish tank with water and sink a cup inside it.
Then drop coins from above, aiming to get them into the cup.
It sounds easy, but the coins flutter around in the water and rarely go in.
It’s so frustrating that you end up trying over and over again.
Use light coins like 1-yen pieces.
If you don’t have a fish tank, you can probably find a substitute at a 100-yen shop, so give it a look!
Water gun target game
This is a simple game using classic water guns in the hot summer, where you compete to see how many targets you can hit within a time limit.
Don’t just focus on target practice—also pay attention to how water guns work by building pressure to push water out.
It’s also recommended to try a DIY approach using basic materials to think about mechanisms like pushing water in with a rod that seals gaps and shooting water out through a nozzle.
Get creative with the durability and distance of the targets, and consider how much water force is needed to knock them down.
Making juice with foam
Water play that kids love is perfect for summer—just splashing with their hands cools them down and makes it feel refreshing.
How about making it even more fun by using bubbles and pretending they’re juice? Fill a basin or an inflatable pool with water and whip up bubbles with soap.
They can splash and mix with their hands, or try a whisk or a bath sponge.
You can also use everyday items like scoops and paper cups to play.