15+ Best Water Games and Activities for Kids

There is no denying that children love the water. Even the little ones enjoy splashing about in the pool, and it is a great family activity and an opportunity to increase bonding. The water is also gentle on children’s bodies, which reduces the risk of getting hurt considerably. Engaging in water games and activities for kids can further enhance their enjoyment and development. These activities not only provide endless fun but also help improve physical coordination, social skills, and confidence in the water. From simple pool games to creative water-based challenges, there are countless ways to keep kids entertained while ensuring they stay active and safe. Parents can join in the fun, making it a memorable experience for the whole family.

Water Games for Kids

Which kid doesn’t enjoy splashing about in water? With summer having set in, here are some fun water games:

1. Water Bottle Relay

With lots of running involved, it’s a great way to make sure your kids get some exercise.

What You Will Need

• 3 large plastic water bottles
• One large nail and a hammer
• 6 buckets
• Water

How to Play

Gather up all the kids in the neighbourhood and divide them into three equal teams. Mark a starting line and an end line about 15 feet away from the start line. Make each team stand in a straight line behind the start line. Give each team a bucket full of water and one plastic bottle with 4-5 holes at the bottom (use the nail and hammer for this). Place one empty bucket for each team at the finish line. The objective of the game is to fill the empty bucket at the end line using only the water bottle while only carrying the bottle lifted above the head. A child fills the bottle, holds it above her head and runs to the finish line to her team’s assigned bucket and empties out the bottle. She then runs back and gives the bottle to the next child in her team who must do the same. The team to first empty out the bucket with water entirely and fill the empty bucket wins.

2. Water Gun Tag

This rather simple game instantly becomes a favourite of everyone who plays it.

What You Will Need

• One water gun

How to Play

Water gun tag is a play on the regular game of tag. Whoever is ‘it’ gets a bucket full of water and a water gun. This kid tags other children (and even adults) with a squirt of water.

3. Water Balloon War

A water-based version of paintball.

What You Will Need

• Lots of water balloons
• Water
• Food safe colouring – Blue and Red
• Two unbreakable cups in two different colours. Bonus points if the colours are blue and red

How to Play

Get two buckets full of water. Mix one bucket with the blue food dye and the other with red dye. Gather all the children and divide them into two groups – Red and Blue. The red team will fill their balloons with the red water, while the blue team makes water balloons with blue water. Demarcate an area for each team which houses the team’s cup. The objective is for each team to retrieve the other team’s cup while using the water balloons as ammunition. Any kid hit and dyed with the other team’s colour must stop playing. The first team to retrieve the other team’s cup wins.

4. Duck Duck Splash

This is a watery take on the classic game of Duck Duck Goose.

What You Will Need

• Water balloons

How to Play

As in the original, the children sit in a circle. Whoever is ‘It’ takes a water balloon and walks around the circle calling duck at each child. When they are behind the child they want to tag, they yell ‘Splash’ and throw the water balloon on their head or back. The person tagged must then chase the first kid and try to catch her before she goes and finds her place in the circle.

5. Bull’s Eye

Check the accuracy of your kids through this game.

What You Will Need

• Chalk
• Sponges – one for each child
• Permanent marker
• Bucket of water

How to Play

Mark circles on the ground with chalk and write points in the centre of each circle. Give each child a sponge with his or her name written in permanent marker. Each child soaks the sponge in the bucket and aims at a circle. Once it lands, they get the points and can occupy that circle. At the end of stipulated time, whoever has the highest points, wins.

Image Credit: Pinterest

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6. Water Dodge Ball

Great for kids who love to spend time in the pool.

What You Will Need

• Beach ball
• Coloured rope

How to Play

Make two teams and tie a rope in the middle of the pool in order to separate the two teams. Each team takes turns throwing the beach ball at the other team’s members who must try to swim away from the ball. If the ball touches a team member, then they will be out. Whichever team has the last man standing, wins? To make this game more interesting, do not get the team members who are out to get out of the pool. Instead, they can push away the ball from active team members in order to keep the survival rate of their team high. However, they can only use their elbows to do so.

7. Water Money

This game is ideal for kids who already know how to swim and want more practice with their underwater swimming abilities.

What You Will Need

• Lots of change in coins

How to Play

Get the children into a circle in the pool. Toss in coins in the centre of this circle. The children will dive towards the coins and retreat how many ever they can in a span of ten minutes. The kid with the most amount of money wins. The best part, the kids get to keep the money they have retrieved.

8. Water Balloon Cricket

Just like normal cricket but with water balloons as the ball instead of a regular ball.

What You Will Need

• A sponge or plastic bat
• Water balloons

How to Play

The batsman has to be careful while hitting the balloon ball or they will be soaked, and the fielders must be careful while catching and throwing the ball to team members. The only rule? The bowler must toss the balloon ball gently.

9. Water Volleyball

The water-version of volleyball.

What You Will Need

• A small beach ball
• A net

How to Play

Set up the net in the middle of a swimming pool and divide the kids into two teams. The rest of the game follows the same rules as that of volleyball.

10. Water limbo

A refreshing twist on the classic limbo game, perfect for hot summer days.

What You Will Need

• Water Hose

How to Play

This is played exactly how traditional limbo is except that here we do not use a limbo stick. Instead, use the hose to create a line of running water. You can increase or decrease the height to adjust for difficulty levels.

Image Credit: Pinterest

11. Sponge Relay Race

A high-energy game that’s perfect for groups and outdoor fun.

What You Will Need

• Sponges
• Two buckets (one filled with water, one empty)

How to Play

Divide the kids into two teams. Place the filled bucket at the starting line and the empty bucket a few feet away. Each team member must soak the sponge in the water-filled bucket, run to the empty bucket, and squeeze the water into it. The team that fills their empty bucket first wins!

Image Credit: Pinterest

12. Water Balloon Piñata

A refreshing take on the classic piñata game.

What You Will Need

• Water balloons
• String or rope
• A sturdy tree branch or pole

How to Play

Fill water balloons and tie them to a string or rope, then hang them from a tree branch or pole. Blindfold the kids and give them a stick to swing at the balloons. When a balloon bursts, they’ll get soaked—guaranteed laughter and fun!

Image Credit: Pinterest

13. Water Balloon Spoon Race

A slippery and hilarious twist on the classic spoon-and-egg race.

What You Will Need

• Water balloons
• Spoons (one for each child)
• A start and finish line

How to Play

Fill water balloons and give each child a spoon. They must balance the water balloon on the spoon while racing from the start line to the finish line. If the balloon falls or bursts, they have to go back and start again. The first one to cross the finish line with their balloon intact wins!

Image Credit: Pinterest

Water Activities for Kids

Maybe the above games aren’t what your child wants. Here are a bunch of water activities that your child could try instead:

1. Water Treasure Hunt

This is one of the best water activities for pre-schoolers as they will be engrossed by how the melting ice reveals their favourite toys!

What You Will Need

• Ice tray
• Small water-resistant toys
• Water
• Freezer

How to Play

Place a single toy in each mould of the ice tray. You can, in fact, ask your child to pick the toys. Pour water into the tray and freeze overnight.

Image Credit: Pinterest

2. Painting on Water

This is one of the fun water activities for kids who are intrigued by visuals rather than physical activity.

What You Will Need

• Large glass tray
• Permanent marker
• Warm water

How to Play

Ask your child to draw a simple figure on the bottom of the glass tray. Then gently pour in the warm water and watch as the water magically lifts up the drawing and floats on top of the water! Your child can use different colours to create a more stunning effect.

3. Ice Cube Painting

Bring out your child’s artistic side!

What You Will Need

• Ice trays
• Water
• Food colouring
• Plain white t-shirts

How to Play

Place water in an ice tray. Place different food dyes in each mould and mix well. Let the coloured ice set overnight. Give your child a plain white t-shirt and different coloured ice cubes. Watch as they use the melting ice to paint a funky t-shirt!

4. Slip and Slide

A fun water activity for kids where you can join in if you so wish!

What You Will Need

• Large flex cloth
• Running water from a hose
• Pegs

How to Play

Place the flex on a slight slope leading to the pool and secure to the ground with pegs. Make sure that the hose is always running water over the flex. Kids can run up to the flex and slide all the way down to the pool.

5. Swimming Pool Scrabble

This outdoor water activity for kids helps to improve your child’s vocabulary as well as lung capacity.

What You Will Need

• Sponge sheets
• Permanent Markers

How to Play

Cut out 2 inch by 2 inch sponge squares. Write out individual alphabets using the permanent markers on the sponge squares. Throw them into the pool. Call out a word and get your child to bring the alphabets that spell out the word. You can increase the difficulty based on their age and skill.

Image Credit: Pinterest

6. Water Balloon Toss Challenge

A fun and interactive activity that tests coordination and teamwork.

What You Will Need

• Water balloons
• Bucket of water

How to Play

Pair up the kids and give each pair a water balloon. Have them stand a few feet apart and toss the balloon to each other. After each successful catch, they take a step back. If the balloon bursts, they’re out! The last pair with an intact balloon wins.

Image Credit: Pinterest

7. Floating Boat Race

A creative and engaging activity that combines crafting and water play.

What You Will Need

• Foam sheets or plastic bottle caps
• Straws
• Tape
• A large tub or pool of water

How to Play

Help kids create small boats using foam sheets or bottle caps and straws. Once the boats are ready, place them in the water and have the kids blow air through the straws to propel their boats forward. The first boat to reach the finish line wins!

Image Credit: Pinterest

8. Underwater Bubble Art

A creative and mesmerizing activity that combines water play with art.

What You Will Need

• A shallow tray or container
• Water
• Dish soap
• Food coloring or liquid watercolors
• Straws

How to Play

Fill the tray with water and add a few drops of dish soap. Let the kids use straws to blow bubbles into the water until they form a frothy layer. Then, drop a few drops of food coloring or liquid watercolors onto the bubbles. Gently press a piece of paper onto the bubbles to create unique, colorful bubble art prints! This activity is both fun and a great way to explore colors and textures.

Image Credit: Pinterest

Safety Tips for Playing Water with Kids

• Under no circumstances should you leave your child unattended near the water. This holds true even if you are turning away for a minute or the water in question is the bathtub.
• Make sure that all the kids understand the rules of playing in the swimming pool. Tell them that under no circumstances will ducking underwater be tolerated.
• Make sure that any and all caregivers are trained in giving CPR.
• Ensure that your child always goes to a pool with lifeguards present and accounted for, do not let them swim at the deep ends of the pool if there are no trained lifeguards present.
• Make sure your child is always within eye-shot if you aren’t in the water and they don’t swim to a place you or their caregivers can’t see.

FAQs

1. Can water games help improve a child’s balance and coordination?

Absolutely! Water games like “floating obstacle courses” (using pool noodles and inflatables) or “water balance beams” (a narrow plank over shallow water) can challenge kids to improve their balance and coordination while having a blast. These activities are not only fun but also great for physical development.

2. How can water games be educational for kids?

Water games can teach kids about science concepts like buoyancy, water flow, and volume. Activities like building floating structures, experimenting with water displacement, or creating homemade water slides can spark curiosity and encourage problem-solving skills while having fun.

3. Are there water activities suitable for kids with sensory sensitivities?

Yes, water play can be adapted for children with sensory sensitivities. Gentle activities like pouring water through funnels, playing with floating toys in a shallow container, or using a small water table with adjustable water levels can provide a calming and enjoyable experience.

Playing with water is always a fun and enjoyable time for kids and adults alike. This summer, be sure to use SPF protection and keep your child safe from sunburn. Before starting any activities, ensure that your child has all his shots up-to-date and has medical clearance.

Also Read:

Indoor Games for Kids
Summer Activities for Kids
Outdoor Activities for Kids
Swimming Pool Games for Children
Beach Games and Activities for Kids

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