This summer I helped organize a couple of water kid parties. I decided to compile a list of the water games we played. It took a little bit of searching and brainstorming to come up with some of these water games, and some we improvised as we went along.
So, as a quick reference, here's some fun and easy water games your kids are sure to love:
{1. Drip, Drip, SPLASH!}
This game is played just like "Duck Duck Goose" except the person who is "it" is holding a wet sponge. Instead of saying "duck, duck..." the "it" person says "drip, drip..." as they walk by everyone holding a wet sponge over their heads and literally drip water on them. When the "it" person chooses someone to chase, he/she yells "Splash!" while squeezing all the water out of the sponge on top of the other player's head. If the "it" person makes it around the circle before being tagged, then the other player is now "it"; otherwise, if the person is tagged, then he'she is still "it" for the next round. When we played this, all the kids wanted to be picked to be "splashed" on--it was so fun!
So, as a quick reference, here's some fun and easy water games your kids are sure to love:
{1. Drip, Drip, SPLASH!}
This game is played just like "Duck Duck Goose" except the person who is "it" is holding a wet sponge. Instead of saying "duck, duck..." the "it" person says "drip, drip..." as they walk by everyone holding a wet sponge over their heads and literally drip water on them. When the "it" person chooses someone to chase, he/she yells "Splash!" while squeezing all the water out of the sponge on top of the other player's head. If the "it" person makes it around the circle before being tagged, then the other player is now "it"; otherwise, if the person is tagged, then he'she is still "it" for the next round. When we played this, all the kids wanted to be picked to be "splashed" on--it was so fun!
{2. Water Balloon Toss}
Each player needs a partner and 1 water balloon. Each set of partners starts by standing 1 step apart and 1 partner tosses the balloon to the other. If the other partner catches the balloon, then both players take 1 step backwards (away from each other) and toss the balloon again. Repeat until the water balloon pops, then both players are out. Play until there is only one partnership remaining, and they win!
Each player needs a partner and 1 water balloon. Each set of partners starts by standing 1 step apart and 1 partner tosses the balloon to the other. If the other partner catches the balloon, then both players take 1 step backwards (away from each other) and toss the balloon again. Repeat until the water balloon pops, then both players are out. Play until there is only one partnership remaining, and they win!
The water balloon toss can be played in teams. Each team forms a line, standing shoulder to shoulder, and 1 balloon is passed from person to person starting at one end of the line and ending at the other end. If the balloon doesn't pop, then all the players take 1 step away from each other (lengthen the line because now there are gaps between the players). Repeat until the balloon pops and a team wins.
{3. Water Crab Soccer}
Crab soccer is played like regular soccer except that all the players are doing the "crab walk." Usually the goals aren't as far apart as regular soccer because walking like a crab is kinda slow and not always easy. To make crab soccer even more exciting, someone follows the ball on the playing field and squirts it with a hose. This way, any players that go after the ball are also getting soaked!
Crab soccer is played like regular soccer except that all the players are doing the "crab walk." Usually the goals aren't as far apart as regular soccer because walking like a crab is kinda slow and not always easy. To make crab soccer even more exciting, someone follows the ball on the playing field and squirts it with a hose. This way, any players that go after the ball are also getting soaked!
{4. Over-Under Sponge Relay}
For this game you will need 2 buckets of water and 1 sponge for every team. The players need to stand in a single-file line with a bucket filled with water at the front of the line and an empty bucket at the back of the line. The first person in line dips the sponge in the bucket of water and then passes it over his/her head to the next person; the next person passes the sponge under his/her legs; then the sponge is passed over head; then the sponge is passed under legs; etc. ...until the last person in line has the sponge and squeezes out whatever water is left into the empty bucket. Then the last person takes the sponge to the front of the line and is now the "first" person and the relay starts over. Players keep passing the sponge until the bucket at the end of the line is filled with water. This game was fun to do with teams so that each team was competing to fill up their bucket the fastest.
For this game you will need 2 buckets of water and 1 sponge for every team. The players need to stand in a single-file line with a bucket filled with water at the front of the line and an empty bucket at the back of the line. The first person in line dips the sponge in the bucket of water and then passes it over his/her head to the next person; the next person passes the sponge under his/her legs; then the sponge is passed over head; then the sponge is passed under legs; etc. ...until the last person in line has the sponge and squeezes out whatever water is left into the empty bucket. Then the last person takes the sponge to the front of the line and is now the "first" person and the relay starts over. Players keep passing the sponge until the bucket at the end of the line is filled with water. This game was fun to do with teams so that each team was competing to fill up their bucket the fastest.
{5. Water Balloon Relays}
For both of these water balloon relays, each team member needs a water balloon. Divide into teams and get in a single-file line. For the first relay, each team member has to run down the field, sit on their water balloon (and make it pop), and then run back and tag the next team member. The fastest team to complete this relay wins.
For the second relay, each team member has to walk (or jump) down the field with a water balloon between their knees, drop their balloon (without popping it), and then run back and tag the next team member. If the water balloon pops, that player is out. If the water balloon drops but doesn't break, the player can stop and pick it back up and then keep walking down the field. The team with the most unpopped balloons at the opposite end of the field wins.
For the second relay, each team member has to walk (or jump) down the field with a water balloon between their knees, drop their balloon (without popping it), and then run back and tag the next team member. If the water balloon pops, that player is out. If the water balloon drops but doesn't break, the player can stop and pick it back up and then keep walking down the field. The team with the most unpopped balloons at the opposite end of the field wins.
{6. Ice cube down your back}
This is a game of endurance. Each player has 1 ice cube. On the signal, each player drops the ice cube down the back of their shirt and try to get the ice cube to melt the fastest. This game can be cool and refreshing but can also be fun to watch everyone squirm!
When you have your water party, remember to remind everyone to wear, sunscreen, clothes that they can get wet in (like swimsuits), and to bring their own towels and maybe a change of clothes depending on what other activities you have planned.
{7. Water Gun Draw}
Give each player a small water gun filled with water, then have them stand back to back with a partner. On the count of the 3, each player walks and takes 3-5 steps away from each other. Then the players turn around quickly, "draw" their water guns, and shoot at each other. When we played this game, it pretty much turned into a free-for-all water gun fight until we had the kids line up with their partners and start over. Just make sure that you have an easy way to keep refilling the water guns so that the players and quickly refill and keep shooting at the other players.
Give each player a small water gun filled with water, then have them stand back to back with a partner. On the count of the 3, each player walks and takes 3-5 steps away from each other. Then the players turn around quickly, "draw" their water guns, and shoot at each other. When we played this game, it pretty much turned into a free-for-all water gun fight until we had the kids line up with their partners and start over. Just make sure that you have an easy way to keep refilling the water guns so that the players and quickly refill and keep shooting at the other players.
{8. Free-For-All Water Balloon Fight}
For our free-for-all water balloon fight we made sure that everyone started with at least one balloon and then yelled, "ready, set,...go!" We also tried to get everyone to stay in a certain area to make clean-up easier.
For our free-for-all water balloon fight we made sure that everyone started with at least one balloon and then yelled, "ready, set,...go!" We also tried to get everyone to stay in a certain area to make clean-up easier.
This may require that you fill up A LOT of water balloons, so I suggest you get some help. Also, most water balloons come with a hose nossel to make it easier to fill, and some even come with a balloon-tie piece so that your fingers don't get raw from tying water balloons.
{9. Slip 'N' Slide Kickball}
This water game is played just like regular kickball (which is baseball but with a kickball). However, for the bases, you use buckets or pools of water that the kids have to stand in to be "safe." For home base, it is best if you can use a slip 'n' slide. Our kids LOVED the slip 'n' slide into home base. In fact, after the kick ball game, they kept taking turns over and over on the slip 'n' slide--it was a hit!
For refreshments, we prefer to have something like Otter Pops or Creamies, something quick and easy that will help the kids to cool off and relax after playing in the water and sun.
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