Check out these fun water games for kids! Get your kids outside this summer with these great water play ideas. Kids of all ages will have a blast with each of these water games! We have water games that involve toys, water balloons, slides, trampolines, and more! Summer isn’t the same without some water fun and these water games for kids are a great way to get rid of boredom.
Water Fun For Kids
Are you ready for fun in the sun this summer? From going to the pool to facing off with water balloons, we’re sharing our favorite 23 ways to play with water this summer! There is no better way to stay cool, spend time with your family, and keep summer fun and active, than water fun for big kids and young children! Summer! The time where the kids are off and are looking for fun things to do. If we’re not careful out kids will be couch potatoes all summer!
Get out and get moving with water fun! Whether it is sponge bombs, hoses, pools, or sprinklers, getting your kids outside is great. They’ll be moving and away from the screens which is always a bonus. Plus, this would be a great way to spend time together!
What Are the Benefits of Water Play for Kids?
Family time is always important, plus, just because we’re adults doesn’t mean we don’t like having fun! Aside from the very obvious benefit of cooling down on a hot day, there are many great things about water play for kiddos.
Water play allows for a fun and adventurous form of scientific discovery. he cool part is that the focus is on playing, and the learning just flows along with it. Water play is an excellent form of exercise, and helps with coordination and motor control.
Ways to Play With Water This Summer
Check out all these fun water games. From water guns, to a water balloon piñata, water balloon fight, and more…we have all the fun water games for a hot summer day. We have something for younger kids, and older kids! Everyone will love these outdoor games. One of the best things about water play, is that it is pretty much free or inexpensive, and you can tailor it to work with what you have at home!
1. Ice Play
Add colored ice to your water table for a fun sensory activity. Ice Play is a great way to cool off, be creative, and get messy! Adding this to your water table will help generate great learning experiences. Kids can explore different temperatures, textures, and colors! Perfect for sensory play.
2. Splash Party
Throw a summer splash party with this idea from Jornie. Buckets of water, toys, scoops, and buckets are all you need to throw the best splash party ever.
3. Water Bomb
Endlessly Inspired‘s sponge water bombs are a fun way to have a water fight in the backyard! To make a water bomb all you need is sponges and rubber bands. The best part is, this will get your kids playing with other kids and help them build social skills as well. An early childhood skill we can always use practice with! You can buy a clean sponge or even packages of them at the dollar store.
4. Squirt Gun Painting For Kids
Fireflies and Mud Pies‘ idea to paint with squirt guns is so awesome! Squirt gun painting for kids is a unique twist to arts and crafts time. Make sure your kids are wearing clothes you don’t care about, this can get messy!
5. DIY Car Wash
Build a backyard car wash for kids! This DIY car wash will keep your kids busy as they’re washing their wheels. Cleaning has never been more fun! Check out Design Mom’s tutorial.
6. DIY Slip and Slide
Make a DIY slip and slide using a few supplies from the hardware store with this fun idea.
7. Life Is Cool By The Pool
Life is cool by the pool, especially with glow sticks! Throw a bunch of glow sticks in a kiddie pool for a super fun night swim, with this fantastic idea from Saving By Design.
8. Ice Dinosaur
Break out a toy dinosaur from a block of ice! This ice dinosaur game is a ton of fun, and will keep your little one busy for a hot minute! This is a great skill for fine motor skills. Break the ice, hammering, aiming, it’s all great practice. It’s a great game for problem solving.
Water Play for Kids
9. Water Play For Toddlers
Looking for more water play activities? Set up a pouring station with this fun activity from Busy Toddler, and watch what happens when the colors mix together! This water play for toddlers is a great way to stay cool and learn!
10.Water Wall
Use old bottles to make a backyard water wall. It’s so simple, but a lot of fun! When I did this I filled up a bucket in the kitchen sink so they can keep filling up the bottles and cartons.
11. Huge Bubbles
You don’t need flashy playthings to have fun! Children of all ages will love making bubbles. But not just any bubbles! Make huge bubbles using a small pool and a hula hoop with this idea from The Nerd’s Wife.
Related: Best bubble recipe
12. Blob Water Toy
This blob water toy is so cool! A huge DIY water blob = hours of fun! Check out The Clumsy Crafter’s tutorial.
13. Water Race Game
This is one of my family’s favourite activities. Design Dazzle’s squirt gun water races guarantee a good time! This water race game is so unique, my kids will love it.
14. Walk The Plank
Warm weather? Then promote pretend play and water play with some pirate fun. Make kids walk the plank over a kiddie pool with this idea from Classy Clutter. The plank is over a kiddie pool with an inflatable alligator!
15. DIY Sprinkler
Don’t have a sprinkler? No worries! You can make this DIY sprinkler. Make your own sprinkler with this activity from Ziggity Zoom, and hook it up to the water hose! Move over TV and tablets, this is the right way to spend summer!
16. Ice Painting
Make The Best Ideas For Kids chalk ice, and watch it melt in the sun. Do some ice painting this summer and make a beautiful picture! This would be a fun thing to add to the water table. Paint, make colors, and have fun! This is also a great way to practice gross motor skills.
17. Frozen Shirt Race
This was one of the more popular activities at a summer party I went to. Have a frozen shirt race — who can thaw it the fastest?! We love this funny idea from A Girl and a Glue Gun! It’s a unique idea and twist on outdoor water play.
Water Play Ideas for Toddlers
18. Water Slide With Water Balloons
Follow the lead with this water slide, and fill a slip and slide with water balloons for the most epic slide, ever! What a great idea! Such a fun way to enjoy so much water.
19. Baseball Balloons
Baseball balloons! Water balloon baseball adds a fun spin on a classic. Check out this activity from Overstuffed Life! This sounds like so much fun and since it’s a game requires cooperative play. More fun skills to practice.
20. Water Balloon Piñata
Make Fireflies and Mud Pies‘ water balloon piñata as a fun surprise for your little ones!
21. Water Balloon Toss
Your family will love this water balloon toss game! Launch water balloons with homemade milk jug launchers with this idea from Kid Friendly Things To Do.
22. Water Balloons
Make water balloons more exciting! Add glow sticks to water balloons for a fun summer party with this idea from The Scrap Shoppe Blog!
23. Water Balloon Games
Jump on a trampoline filled with water balloons with this fun summer activity from A Subtle Revelry. These water balloon games are the best!
More Summer Crafts and Activities for Families
Looking for more summer fun and outdoor activities? We have so many great ideas! From water fun for kids, to games, activities, and treats! A splash pad is fun and so is a swimming pool, but there are so many more things to do that are so much fun.
What is your favorite way to play with water with your kiddos? Comment below!
