Make A Splash!

Bring on the heat. We've found some great outdoor water games that are perfect for cooling down and having fun.

Splash Tag

Soak a giant sponge (like the ones they use to wash cars) in water. The person who's "It" runs after the other players and tags them by hitting them with the wet sponge. The first person hit is "It.” Resoak the sponge at the start of each round.

Marco Mama

You need either a lake or pool for this one, plus a group of kids and their mothers. The moms close their eyes and count in unison while the kids spread out in the water (shallow water only for safety), with siblings grouped together. Keeping their eyes closed, the mothers try to find their kids by listening for their voices. The kids call out "Mom!" and the moms respond with "Polo." The first mom to touch all her kids wins.

Musical Sprinkler

Set up your sprinkler, but don’t turn it on yet. Tell the players to move around the sprinkler area jumping, dancing, hopping, etc. . . When the sprinkler is turned on the players must freeze in position without moving until the sprinkler is turned off again.

Fun Freeze

Fill a child's wading pool with ice cubes and water. Give each player a plastic bowl or bucket. Set a kitchen timer for two minutes. Players try to get as many ice cubes as possible into their buckets using only their feet. When the timer goes off, the person with the most cubes in his or her bucket wins.

Water Limbo

Just like the regular limbo only instead of a stick, children limbo under a stream of water from a garden hose. An adult is in charge of the hose (a spray attachment works best) starting high and lowering the stream of water with each round.

Just For Fun

Take a small toy, party favor, or other item and insert it into a balloon. Fill the balloon with water, tie the end, and stick it in the freezer overnight. Cut away the balloon and take the ice ball containing the special prize and let the kids play with it in the lake, pool, or grass until the ice melts.

LCJM web editor pick:
Here is a great alternative to water balloons, which are a serious hazard for both small children and wild animals. Use zipper-seal bags. Fill them in a bucket and seal them underwater.