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 pools and watersides! Water play games (21–30)
Water Splash Game
In this game, the winner splashes water on the loser! First, set a paper cup filled with water and a deck of cards on the table.
Sit facing each other, and at the cue “Ready, go!” each player flips one card from their hand.
The higher number wins, and the winner splashes water at the loser.
If the numbers are the same, it’s a tie and you both draw another card—then, the eventual winner splashes two cups’ worth of water.
When all the water is used up, the winner is whoever has splashed more water overall.
It’s the perfect game for a hot summer!
Color Water Gun Battle
A color water-gun battle where you shoot each other with dyed water.
It’s like a real-life version of the kids’ favorite game Splatoon.
Everyone wears a white T-shirt and fills their water gun with their own color—if it’s a team match, you use your team’s color.
At the starting signal, the shooting begins! Try not to get hit or stain your own T-shirt while blasting your opponents’ shirts to dye them your color.
Get some white shirts you don’t mind getting dirty and enjoy an all-out water-gun showdown!
Relay race in the pool
If you’ve got a large, spacious pool and a big group, how about splitting into teams and doing a relay? Just like on land, divide into teams, run one lap around the pool, and pass a baton or sash to the next person.
If you don’t have a baton, a simple tag could work too.
The nail-biting excitement of seeing which team will win makes for a great time even in the pool! Since you’re around water, be careful not to slip or build up too much momentum and take a fall.
Water Carrying Race
It’s a water-carrying race where you scoop water from a large container filled with water, carry it to an empty container, and pour it in.
Fill a big container or a kiddie pool with water, and place an empty container some dozens of meters away.
At the starting signal, everyone uses any container they like to scoop water, runs to the empty container, and pours it in.
The team that collects the most water within the time limit wins.
You can work together to carry a large container of water, or go light and make many trips on your own—watching the kids’ teamwork is the highlight.
PET bottle water gun
Let’s make a water gun that will be a big hit for water play using recycled materials! First, make a hole in a plastic bottle cap just big enough for a straw to fit through.
Cut the straw to the right length, insert it into the cap, then fill the bottle with water and close the cap.
It’s simple, but your water gun is now complete! Since you’ll squeeze and release the sides of the bottle to squirt the water, be sure to use a soft plastic bottle.
Decorate it to make it cute by drawing pictures with a permanent marker or adding vinyl tape and other embellishments.
Ghost knockdown game with a water gun
Kids love playing with water, and just adding one more item can make it even more exciting! Among water games, ones that use water guns get especially lively—so how about trying a ghost knockdown game where you shoot ghosts with water guns? String up a rope and hang ghost targets from it, then attach tissues or toilet paper to the tops of the ghosts’ heads.
When you shoot that part with water, the ghosts fall down.
You could make the ghosts out of waterproof materials like milk cartons.
playing in the river
Summer is a great season for playing in rivers.
When planning river activities, always have guardians check how comfortable the children are with water.
Teachers should also conduct a site inspection in advance and confirm on the day that the weather is safe and the river’s water level hasn’t risen.
It’s important for all teachers to thoroughly check that the play area is shallow, that children can firmly stand, and that there are no hazardous spots.
Make sure children wear life jackets, clearly go over the rules for river play, and assign a higher number of teachers relative to the number of children.
