Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 75 views

    17 Swimming Pool Games For Kids This Summer: 1. Mermaid Races

    Uploaded by

    badurally
    This document provides 17 swimming pool game ideas for kids this summer. Some of the games described include mermaid races where kids hold their breath and swim underwater as far as possible; invisi-bottle where players try to find a clear water bottle hidden at the bottom of the pool; and noodle jousting where kids battle each other on rafts using pool noodles. Many of the games are variations of classic games adapted for the pool, such as tag, red rover, and whack-a-mole. The goal is to provide fun options beyond just swimming to keep kids entertained at the pool.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    17 Swimming Pool Games For Kids This Summer: 1. Mermaid Races

    Uploaded by

    badurally
    75 views7 pages
    This document provides 17 swimming pool game ideas for kids this summer. Some of the games described include mermaid races where kids hold their breath and swim underwater as far as possible; invisi-bottle where players try to find a clear water bottle hidden at the bottom of the pool; and noodle jousting where kids battle each other on rafts using pool noodles. Many of the games are variations of classic games adapted for the pool, such as tag, red rover, and whack-a-mole. The goal is to provide fun options beyond just swimming to keep kids entertained at the pool.

    Original Title

    17_swimming_pool_games_bumblebeecenter.pdf

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document provides 17 swimming pool game ideas for kids this summer. Some of the games described include mermaid races where kids hold their breath and swim underwater as far as possible; invisi-bottle where players try to find a clear water bottle hidden at the bottom of the pool; and noodle jousting where kids battle each other on rafts using pool noodles. Many of the games are variations of classic games adapted for the pool, such as tag, red rover, and whack-a-mole. The goal is to provide fun options beyond just swimming to keep kids entertained at the pool.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    75 views7 pages

    17 Swimming Pool Games For Kids This Summer: 1. Mermaid Races

    Uploaded by

    badurally
    This document provides 17 swimming pool game ideas for kids this summer. Some of the games described include mermaid races where kids hold their breath and swim underwater as far as possible; invisi-bottle where players try to find a clear water bottle hidden at the bottom of the pool; and noodle jousting where kids battle each other on rafts using pool noodles. Many of the games are variations of classic games adapted for the pool, such as tag, red rover, and whack-a-mole. The goal is to provide fun options beyond just swimming to keep kids entertained at the pool.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    You are on page 1of 7

    17 Swimming Pool Games

    For Kids This Summer

    BY BUZZ BISHOP
    FacebookT witterGoog le+TumblrPinterest

    We have spent the first week of our summer vacation at a hotel in the mountains with a golf
    course and a pool. This is the kind of camping my wife appreciates, apparently.

    Our sons have been in swimming lessons since the beginning and take to the pool like, well…
    fish to water. While there are many options in the Columbia Valleyfor us to go hiking, sight
    seeing, boating, fishing, etc. the gang has been content to hang at the pool.

    I’m guessing this will be a common occurrence for many families this season, and whether it’s a
    backyard pool, a community pool, a lake, or a resort, there are dozens of fun swimming pool
    games you can teach the kids to make the pool experience more than “HEY MOM! WATCH
    THIS!”

    It’s not all cannonballs. Check out these options:

    1. Mermaid Races

    Some call them dolphin races or submarine races. Call it what you want, this is a “hold your
    breath and see who can swim the longest underwater race.” My brother always beat me at this
    one.
    IMAGE SOURCE: THINKSTOCK

    2. Invisi-bottle

    Take an empty clear 2 liter plastic bottle. One with a white cap, or the same color as your pool
    tiles is also a good idea. Fill the bottle with pool water and line the players up on the pool deck,
    backs to the water. When they hear the splash they can turn around and try to find it. It’s harder
    than it seems as the bottle camouflages to the bottom.

    3. Noodle Jousting

    Instead of riding horses for this battle, the players line up on inflatable rafts. Then, just like
    medieval gladiators, they try to knock each other from their mount with pool noodles.

    4. Shark in the Pool

    This is another variation of tag where the players are allowed to hop in and out of the water. The
    shark, “it”, tries to tag them when they are in the water. If the shark tags someone, they become
    “it.” You can add variations by giving the shark a mask, a snorkel, even fins so they can swim
    quickly to catch the players. Players can only stay out of the water for 5 seconds at a time to give
    the shark a chance to catch them.
    IMAGE SOURCE: THINKSTOCK

    5. Ping Pong

    Just as it is fun to collect things that sink to the bottom, you can do the same with things that
    float. Ping pong balls make a great floating thing to catch since they’re light and hard to see. You
    can put numbers on them for point values, initials on them where players need to find just their
    own, etc. The more you toss into the pool the more fun it is.

    6. Treasure Hunt

    When I was a kid it was simple. My dad or grandpa would toss coins off the deck next to my
    uncle’s pool and my brother and I would dive in after them. For hours we did this. HOURS.

    7. Popsicle

    Freeze tag in the water. When someone is tagged, they stand straight with their hands above their
    head, like a popsicle. The added twist in this game is submarining. When a player is under water,
    they cannot be tagged by “it,” but they can swim past a “popsicle” and unfreeze them. (No
    licking involved, please.)
    IMAGE SOURCE: THINKSTOCK

    8. Octopus

    It’s like Red Rover. Players try to get from one side of the pool to the other without getting
    tagged by “It.” When “It” tags a player, they join them in the middle and hold hands. Subsequent
    players join in as well until you have a long line (an octopus) in the middle. Play until 1 is left,
    and then start again.

    9. Atomic Whirlpool

    Have everyone start slowly moving around in a circle, then move faster and faster and faster
    until a whirlpool is created and you can float on it. (Works better in a smaller pool.)

    10. Pirates!

    Grab an odd number of diving sticks (7, 5, 9) and place your players on opposite ends of the
    pool. Toss the sticks in the middle, and the first pirate to come back with the majority of the
    sticks (treasure) wins. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
    IMAGE SOURCE: THINKSTOCK

    11. Mr.Wolf / Mr. Shark?

    The same as “What Time Is It Mr. Wolf?” that your kids would play at recess, except in the pool
    it is “What Time Is It Mr. Shark?”

    12. F-I-S-H

    The basketball game HORSE has people taking stunt shots, miss a shot get a letter. First to spell
    HORSE loses. For FISH, you can play with a poolside basketball net, or you could just have
    players go back and forth doing dives, splashes, and other acrobatic pool maneuvers.

    13. Scavenger Hunt

    Get a collection of items that will sink in pairs. (2 coins, 2 pool rings, 2 dive toys, etc.) Toss
    them about the pool and then have the teams try to collect one of each item. First to collect them
    all, wins.
    IMAGE SOURCE: THINKSTOCK

    14. Belly Flop Contest

    Honestly, with some kids you don’t even need to have a contest, they just do it naturally. Last
    time at the pool with my boys, even the lifeguard gave a groaning“oooohhh!” when my son
    flopped in.

    15. Marco Polo

    This classic is basically tag in the water. “It” closes their eyes and yells “MARCO!” the rest of
    the players respond with “POLO!” while they move around the pool and try to avoid being
    caught. Be careful which kind of pool you play this in, you’ll want to make sure it’s shallow and
    the players are mindful of “It” not being able to see where they are going.

    16. Chicken Fight

    Okay, this is for the older kids, and maybe even for the parents. Ahem. Ride piggy back on the
    shoulders and then engage the other team. First one to fall of their ride’s shoulders loses. All
    sorts of age appropriate punching, kicking, and hair pulling is encouraged.
    IMAGE SOURCE: THINKSTOCK

    17. Bobbing Heads

    This is whack-a-mole in the pool. “It” must try and pluck off the bobbing players when they pop
    up with a pool noodle, or soft ball. Once they’re all plucked off, trade places and bob again.

    You might also like