20+ Super Fun Swimming Pool Games for Kids

If you are out at a water park or even in the common pool of your neighborhood, gathering different families and their kids can create the perfect setting for exciting times together. Playing children’s games in the swimming pool brings joy to everyone, making it a great way for families to bond and enjoy themselves. Swimming games for kids are not only fun and engaging, but they also offer a unique chance for adults to join in, creating cherished memories together. These games foster children’s swimming skills, encourage teamwork, and build friendships. Plus, kids’ pool games add an extra layer of excitement, turning a simple day at the pool into an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Swimming Pool Games for Children

Games that involve getting wet in the pool can include a few kids or an entire flock of children, depending on how intense the game is.

1. Hit the Bobbing Head

Start off with a bang with this game that will get everybody riled up.

Number of Players

5 or more.

How to Play

• One player stands in the centre, holding a ball or a soft paddle.
• Other players surround him and stay underwater. If anybody bobs their head up, the middle player needs to whack it with the paddle.

2. Tag Team Attack

If you’re feeling left out, join in along with other grown-up kids, too.

Number of Players

10 to 20.

How to Play

• Adults and grown-ups need to hoist the younger kids while they push other kids on someone else’s shoulders and make them fall in the water.
• The pair that lasts till the end is the winner.

3. Call and Response Fun

There is nothing more exciting than wading through a pool blindfolded and finding your friends.

Number of Players

8 to 10.

How to Play

• One player is selected to be ‘it’ and is blindfolded while others stand around him.
• Each time ‘it’ screams “Marco”, all other players have to yell “polo”. Gauging their distance, ‘it’ needs to find a player and catch them.

4. Treasure Hunt

This can be done with young kids at a home pool, too.

Number of Players

5 to 10.

How to Play

• Hide a variety of objects at the base of the pool.
• Let the kids wear swimming goggles, take a deep breath, and dive into the pool to look for them.

5. Pool Volleyball

Make use of the water to leap and dive and get the difficult catches.

Number of Players

4 to 6

How to Play

• All you need is a basketball or the usual volleyball.
• Pass the ball to the other side and catch it or hit it to pass it back, like the usual volleyball games.

6. Mr.Shark’s Dinner Time

A variation of the popular Mr.Wolf game, this one has similar rules but is played in the water.

Number of Players

10 or more.

How to Play

• One kid is the shark, and he stands at the pool’s end facing away from the water.
• Other kids stand at a distance in the pool and ask the shark for some time.
• The shark can turn around at any time and the kids need to stop moving. Whoever touches the other first wins the game.

7. Scavenger Race

Another variant of a treasure hunt, but this has the pressure of a ticking clock.

Number of Players

5 to 10.

How to Play

• Put together a few plastic sticks and let all the kids stand at the edges of the pool.
• Throw the sticks in the middle and let the kids rush to get them.
• The one who brings back the most and the soonest wins.

8. Whirlpool Creation

Tone down the competition with this group game that is quite relaxing.

Number of Players

10 to 20.

How to Play

• Everyone stands in a circle and walks clockwise, faster and faster.
• This will give rise to a whirlpool in the middle.

9. Octopus Attack

The longer you play this game, the more exciting it starts to get.

Number of Players

10 to 20

How to Play

• One player stands in the middle as others try to cross the pool.
• Every person the player touches joins the middle player to make the octopus grow.

10. Icecream

Sadly, this does not involve an actual ice cream but is quite a bit of fun nevertheless.

Number of Players

10 or more

How to Play

• Whenever ‘it’ manages to touch someone, the kid needs to freeze wherever he is until somebody touches him.
• The ‘it’ cannot touch a person who is underwater.

11. Ping Pong Catch

Take advantage of ping pong balls floating on water to make a new game.

Number of Players

5 to 10

How to Play

• Let all players stand on one edge of the pool.
• Throw the ping pong balls in random areas of the pool and let everyone swim to catch them. The one who catches the most is the winner.

12. Raft Battles

If you have small inflatable boats or rings, this game is going to be tremendously exciting.

Number of Players

10 to 20

How to Play

• All players sit in the inflatable rafts and move around the pool.
• The objective is to push the other player off his raft or upturn the raft in the water.

13. Find The Bottle

It seems easy to play when you hear it, but it gets challenging quickly.

Number of Players

5 to 10

How to Play

• Use a transparent bottle and fill it with water.
• Let the kids look away and throw the bottle in the pool. They can turn around the moment they hear the splash. The one who finds the bottle wins.

14. Underwater Race

A good way to teach children to hold their breath and have fun at the same time.

Number of Players

5 to 10

How to Play

• All the kids stand at one edge. At the count of 3, everybody goes underwater.
• The kids need to swim as far as possible underwater and stop the moment they emerge outside. The one who swims the farthest wins.

15. Tug Of War

Now that you are in the water, there’s no fear of hurting yourself as well. So give it your all.

Number of Players

20 or more

How to Play

• Split kids into two teams and use a strong pool rope.
• Each team pulls on the rope until they pull the rope to get a centre mark in their area. That team is the winner.

16. Seaweed Struggle

A twist on the octopus game, only this time the tables are turned.

Number of Players

10 to 15

How to Play

• Let the majority of kids band together to form the seaweed and stand at the centre.
• Other kids have to swim from one end to the other without being caught by the seaweed.

17. Pool Scrabble

Learning new words by having fun in the water and completing the game at the same time.

Number of Players

5 to 10

How to Play

• In a small shallow pool, throw the scrabble chips in the water.
• Let the kids retrieve the chips and form the words on the board by the side of the pool.

18. Frisbee Toss

Did you know that Frisbees can float on water? Then, use that to create a wonderful game.

Number of Players

5 to 10

How to Play 

• Arrange Frisbees at the far end with scores on each one.
• Players have to throw a ball to hit a Frisbee. Whoever scores the most wins.

19. Floater Winner

This game might look calm, but it requires quite a lot of concentration.

Number of Players

5 to 10

How to Play

• Each kid balances a small toy on his head and floats on the water gently.
• The kid who can balance the toy right until reaching the other end wins.

20. Fish in the Middle

This game can get quickly exhausting, but that’s because it is just so much fun.

Number of Players

3 to 6

How to Play

• An equal number of players are to be present on each side and in the middle.
• The edge players pass a ball between them; the middle players need to intercept it.
• When they do, they switch places with the ones who threw the ball.

21. Watermelon Push

A fun challenge to move a large, slippery object across the water.

Number of Players

5 to 10

How to Play

• Use a greased watermelon or any smooth, round object. Players must push the watermelon from one end of the pool to the other without lifting it out of the water.
• The first player to reach the end wins.

22. Cannonball Splash

A simple yet competitive splash game.

Number of Players

3 or more

How to Play

• Each player takes a turn jumping into the pool, trying to make the biggest splash with a cannonball.
• The other players can judge whose splash was the largest.

23. Water Obstacle Course

Turn the pool into an obstacle course for an extra workout and fun.

Number of Players

5 to 10

How to Play

• Set up floating obstacles or use pool noodles and floaties to create a course.
• Players must swim around or under the obstacles and complete the course.
• The fastest player to finish wins.

24. Sponge Relay Race

A fast-paced game that combines teamwork and swimming.

Number of Players

6 to 12

How to Play

• Divide players into two teams.
• Place an empty bucket at one end of the pool and give each team a large sponge.
• Players take turns soaking the sponge in water, swimming to the bucket, and squeezing it out.
• The first team to fill their bucket to a designated line wins.

FAQs

1. Can swimming pool games help improve water safety skills in kids?

Yes, certain swimming pool games can help children become more comfortable in the water and develop essential water safety skills. Through playful activities, kids can learn how to move confidently, float, and even practice safe ways to enter and exit the pool. This fun approach can make them more aware of water safety principles in a relaxed setting.

2. What is the ideal age for kids to start participating in swimming pool games?

Generally, children can begin enjoying swimming pool games once they have basic water confidence and can comfortably hold their breath or float with assistance. However, the ideal age can vary based on the child’s development and swimming ability. Starting with simple games and gradually increasing the complexity can make the experience enjoyable and safe for younger kids.

Playing in the pool is extremely fun for kids and adults of all ages. With the various swimming pool games for kids ideas, you can organise a nice weekend outing and make memories that can stay with you for a long time.

Also Read:

Memory Games for Kids
Fun Brain Games for Your Kids
Fun Water Games for Children
Outdoor Physical Activities for Kids
Music Games and Activities for Children