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!
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Perfect for summer: Fun at the pool and water spots! Water play games (1–10)
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.
[Perfect for Summer] Fun at Pools and Water Spots! Water Play Games (11–20)
Underwater Port Ball
Portball is a game in which you weave past the opponent’s defense to deliver the ball to the person in the goal position.
Playing portball in a pool adds a new layer of gameplay and makes it more exciting.
The water’s resistance makes it harder to throw the ball, and players may have to swim to defend, so careful strategizing becomes important.
Setting rules such as how long a player can hold the ball and how the ball can be contested are key points for keeping the game exciting and safe.
Ghost busting with a water gun
Games where you shoot something down with a water gun are always exciting, right? If you play a game where you shoot down ghosts, it could really bring out the summer spirit and be a lot of fun.
Draw ghost illustrations and use newspaper or calligraphy paper to make something like a string, then hang them from a rope.
It’s easy if you clip them on with clothespins.
Aim for the string part and shoot it down with your water gun.
This way, even kids who are scared of ghosts might enjoy themselves while defeating them!
Kickboard Othello
It’s a team-based competitive game played with kickboards floating in a pool.
The rule is to see how many kickboards—with clearly distinguishable front and back—you can flip to your team’s color within the time limit.
Even people who aren’t strong swimmers can reach the kickboards just by walking in the pool, so a wide range of participants can enjoy it.
Increasing the number of players per team or the number of kickboards makes the game more exciting, so that’s recommended too.
To prevent minor disputes, make sure to announce in advance that players may not touch the same kickboard consecutively after flipping it once.
Tag (or It) while holding hands
Let’s try playing a slightly unusual version of tag called “Tetsunagi Oni” (hand-holding tag) in the water! Just like regular tag, choose an “oni” (it) and run in the water to escape from them.
If you get caught, hold hands with the oni and chase the others together.
The last person who hasn’t been caught wins.
Even kids who usually play hand-holding tag on land may find it feels different in the water—harder to run or harder to escape—and those differences can make the game even more exciting and fun.