When the warm summer months roll around, your little ones inevitably gravitate towards swimming pools. And who can blame them? Not only are splashing, laughing, jumping and competing universally enjoyed by kids, but they also help them to develop motor skills, socialise with others and burn off energy. What’s not to like?
Are you looking for some fun, safe and original pool-based games to play with your children this summer? Read to the end of this post to discover some of our favourites.
Why are pool-based games such a great way for kids to have fun in summer?
Water is a refreshing medium in which fun and games become even more stimulating. Children can play for hours on end in swimming pools, as water makes them feel freer and allows them to move around effortlessly. Beside this, pool-based games also help children to:
- Strengthen their coordination and balance.
- Learn to work as part of a team.
- Learn to enjoy themselves in a safe and supervised setting.
- …and have an amazing time!
If you’re planning a family holiday this summer, we recommend spending a day somewhere like Caribe Aquatic Park. In water parks of this standard, the opportunities for family-friendly water-based fun are limitless!
Top 10 pool-based games for kids
- Underwater Treasure Hunt: throw colourful objects into the water, wait for them to sink and get your kids to collect them from the bottom of the pool.
- Water Relays: team races (either swimming or walking) along the length or width of the pool.
- Shark Attack: one player is nominated as the shark, and the others need to cross from one side of the pool to the other without being touched or ‘attacked’ by them.
- Water Statues: all of the players need to move around in the water. When someone outside the pool shouts “statues!” the players need to freeze in place. The first person to move in each round is then eliminated.
- Float Race: a simple float-assisted race from one side of the pool to the other.
- Water Fight: a battle contested between two teams with one simple objective: soak the other team as much as possible! While no equipment is required, you can elevate the fight by introducing water pistols.
- Duck ‘Fishing’: use nets or scoops to ‘fish’ rubber ducks from the surface of the water. This game is particularly suitable for young children.
- Pool Prisonball: the concept is quite simple: it’s like standard prisonball, but in a pool! If you’re hit by the ball, you’re going straight to ‘prison’.
- Floating Hoops Challenge: get your kids to swim or pass through hoops without touching the rim.
- ‘Simon Says’…In The Water: a water-based version of the classic imitation game.
Can you imagine playing these incredible games surrounded by slides, themed pools and tropical areas? Well, you can do just that at Caribe Aquatic Park: a wonderful water park where children can enjoy the quintessential aquatic experience.
Tips for organising pool-based games with children
Recommended ages
Some games are better suited to younger children, while others lend themselves more to older kids. Generally speaking, young children (3-6 years old) should stick to simple games in the shallow end, whereas children aged 7 and above can play more dynamic and collaborative games at greater depths, albeit under supervision.
Supervision and basic safety rules
A responsible adult should always be on-hand to supervise children when they’re playing in swimming pools. Some important rules that must be followed by everyone, especially young children, include:
- Don’t run around the pool.
- Don’t push others into the pool.
- Take turns and follow the rules of the given game.
- Use armbands or life vests if you don’t know how to swim.
Cheap and easy equipment for games
While many games don’t require anything more than a swimming pool and a dash of imagination, you may also opt to invest in the following:
- Floats, balls and ‘noodles’.
- Hoops, buckets and strainers.
- Rubber ducks or plastic figurines.
If you don’t have these knocking about at home, don’t fret. Many water parks such as Caribe Aquatic Park are equipped with everything you could possibly need for a safe and fun day of playing in and around the pool.
