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: Have fun at the pool and water spots! Water play games (31–40)
Bubble play
Fluffy bubbles are fun both to touch and to look at, aren’t they? How about adding bubble play as part of your water activities during the hot summer? You can make bubbles by mixing finely grated bar soap with water, and then whipping it up further with a foaming net.
Adding sugar helps it foam well.
It’s also great to have the kids think about how to make sturdy bubbles as they experiment.
Once you’ve made the bubbles, try different ways to play: put them on your body, gently blow them into the air, or combine them with colored water to make pretend drinks topped with “cream.” Enjoy the many ways to play!
flowing somen (nagashi-somen)
In summer it’s often too hot to feel like eating, but many people find they can still manage somen noodles because they go down so smoothly.
With recent summers being extremely hot, even kids can suffer from heat fatigue, so let’s build stamina while having fun with nagashi-somen.
Eating together in a lively atmosphere is sure to lift your spirits and restore your energy.
Rock Picking Game
I think this is a classic recreational game that everyone has surely played at least once in their school pool.
As you know, the way it’s played is to scatter small stones in the pool and then everyone dives in to pick them up.
The person who collects the most stones wins.
So besides swimming, being good at diving gives you an advantage.
Depending on the rules it might be a foul, but using your feet skillfully to pick them up could be allowed.
This is a common one, but make sure you don’t accidentally pick up the pool disinfectant by mistake thinking it’s a stone.
Ring toss game in the pool
Ring toss is a game that gets kids excited and even makes adults a bit competitive.
It’s simple, but you can’t help getting really into it.
How about trying ring toss on water, in a pool? Set up floating balls or similar targets, and throw swim rings at them! Unlike regular ring toss, the targets are bobbing on the water, so they’ll move with the wind or when the ring hits them—making it even more exciting.
Mat-walking showdown
Haven’t you seen it on Japanese TV variety shows or competition shows? You run across mats floating on the water, aiming for the goal without falling in.
And usually, people take an epic spill or slide off with the mat and sink into the water (lol).
The way they fall or sink is so over-the-top that it’s hilarious and really gets everyone hyped.
The trick is to run quickly and move across the mats while putting as little weight on them as possible.
But it never goes quite as smoothly as you imagine, does it?
Perfect for summer: Have fun at the pool and water spots! Water play games (41–50)
Breath-holding challenge
Many adults probably did this when they were kids, too, right? It’s a simple game where you just go underwater and hold your breath to see how long you can last.
It’s very simple, but it really gets exciting.
Of course, the person who holds their breath the longest wins.
For kids who aren’t comfortable going underwater, you might start by practicing just putting their face in the water.
Turning it into a head-to-head contest and holding a tournament to decide the champion will definitely get everyone hyped!
plastic bottle shower
Let’s make a cool, refreshing shower with a plastic bottle! Cut off a small portion of the bottle near the mouth, and make holes in the bottom so water can come out like a shower.
Since the cut edge can be dangerous, cover it with vinyl tape or similar.
Then decorate the bottle by drawing on it or adding stickers, attach a handle, and you’re done! You can also make one by poking small holes in the bottle cap, so try whichever method you like and have fun playing with it.