25 Best Water Games Your Kids Will Love This Summer!

When the heat kicks in and school’s out, few things are more magical than a day spent splashing around — whether it’s in the backyard, at the park, or wherever you can find a patch of grass and a hose.

But after the fifth game of “just run through the sprinkler,” it’s only natural to crave a few fresh ideas.

That’s why we’ve curated the 25 best water games to try — easy, screen-free ways to keep the kids cool, moving, and (most importantly) entertained. And no, you don’t need a pool or a Pinterest-worthy setup to make it work.

Think classic splash battles to creative twists that’ll impress even your most difficult-to-entertain tweens, turn your outdoor space into a mini waterpark!

1. Water Balloon Volleyball

What You Need:

• Water balloons
• Old bedsheet or lightweight tablecloth
• Outdoor space

How To Play:

1. Divide players into two teams of 2-4 people each
2. Each team holds opposite ends of the sheet
3. Place a water balloon in the middle of the sheet
4. Teams work together to launch the balloon upward and over to the opposing team
5. Opposing team must catch the balloon with their sheet
6. Play continues until the balloon breaks
7. Award points for successful catches or when the opposing team fails to catch

2. Sponge Relay

What You Need:

• Large sponges (one per team)
• Two buckets per team (one filled with water, one empty)
• Outdoor space for running

How To Play:

1. Divide players into equal teams
2. Position each team in a line
3. Place a full water bucket at the starting point and an empty bucket at the finish line
4. First player dips sponge in water, runs to empty bucket, squeezes water out
5. Player rushes back and hands sponge to next teammate
6. Continue until time runs out or a team fills their bucket to a predetermined line
7. The team with the most water transferred wins

3. Sprinkler Musical Chairs

What You Need:

• Garden sprinkler
• Chairs (one fewer than the number of players)
• Music player
• Outdoor space

How To Play:

1. Arrange chairs in a circle around the sprinkler
2. Turn on the sprinkler at a medium setting
3. Play music while players walk around the chairs
4. When the music stops, everyone races for a seat
5. Last person without a seat is eliminated
6. Remove one chair and continue
7. Last player sitting wins the championship title

4. Ice Treasure Hunt

What You Need:

• Small waterproof toys, coins, or trinkets
• Ice cube trays or larger plastic containers
• Spray bottles with warm water
• Towels for wet hands

How To Play:

1. Freeze small treasures inside ice cubes or larger ice blocks the day before
2. Scatter the ice treasures across your yard or kiddie pool
3. Give children spray bottles with warm water
4. Players must melt their ice to retrieve the treasures inside
5. Consider assigning point values to different treasures
6. Highest point collector wins or simply enjoy the discovery process

5. Water Gun Painting

What You Need:

• Water guns
• Washable tempera paint (diluted with water)
• Large paper, old sheets, or canvas
• Clothespins to secure paper/fabric
• Protective clothing or swimwear

How To Play:

1. Hang white fabric or large paper on fence or between trees
2. Fill water guns with diluted washable paint
3. Let kids shoot their artistic creations onto the canvas
4. Consider themes or challenges: “Paint a summer scene” or “Create a rainbow”
5. Let the artwork dry for a unique summer keepsake

6. Splash Tag

What You Need:

• Small cups
• Water source
• Outdoor space

How To Play:

1. Choose one player to be “it”
2. Give “it” a small cup of water
3. “It” chases other players, trying to tag them
4. When tagged, “it” gets to splash their cup of water on that person
5. Tagged player becomes the new “it” and refills their cup
6. No re-tagging the person who just tagged you
7. Play until thoroughly soaked and giggling

7. Drip, Drip, Splash

What You Need:

• Bucket of water
• Small cup
• Large playing area

How To Play:

1. Players sit in a circle facing inward
2. One player walks around the outside with a cup of water
3. They gently drip small amounts on players’ heads saying “drip”
4. When they choose to say “splash,” they pour the remaining water on that player
5. The splashed player jumps up to chase the splasher around the circle
6. If caught before the splasher sits in their spot, the same player splashes again
7. If not caught, the splashed player becomes the new water carrier

8. Water Balloon Piñata

What You Need:

• Water balloons
• String or yarn
• Tree branch or clothesline
• Bandana for blindfolding
• Pool noodle

How To Play:

1. Hang several water balloons at different heights from a tree branch
2. Blindfold one player at a time
3. Give them a pool noodle as their “bat”
4. Spin them gently and point them toward the balloons
5. Other players can give “hot/cold” hints to guide them
6. Each player gets three swings to break as many balloons as possible
7. Whoever breaks the most balloons wins

9. Soggy Potato

What You Need:

• Large wet sponge
• Music player
• Outdoor space

How To Play:

1. Players stand in a circle
2. Start music and pass the soaking wet sponge around like “hot potato”
3. When music stops, whoever holds the sponge gets a squeeze over their head
4. That player is still in the game but now delightfully drenched
5. Continue until everyone’s had a turn getting soaked
6. No elimination makes this perfect for younger players

10. Sponge Dodgeball

What You Need:

• Several large sponges soaked in water
• Boundary markers (cones, chalk, or rope)
• Large play area

How To Play:

1. Divide group into two teams
2. Create a center line and boundaries
3. Teams throw wet sponges at opposing players
4. If hit, player must sit out until one of their teammates catches a throw
5. Last team with players standing wins
6. Soaked sponges eliminate tears while maximizing laughter

11. Cup Race

What You Need:

• Plastic cups filled with water
• Outdoor space
• Optional: obstacles (pool noodles, chairs to go around)

How To Play:

1. Players balance cups of water on their heads
2. Create a start and finish line
3. Add obstacles for extra challenge
4. Race to the finish line without using hands to steady cup
5. Winner is first to finish with the most water remaining
6. Measure remaining water in a measuring cup for precise judging
7. Optional team relay version for added cooperation

12. Slip ‘n Slide Bowling

What You Need:

• Homemade slip ‘n slide (plastic sheeting with hose)
• Dish soap to make extra slippery
• Empty plastic bottles as bowling pins
• Small amount of water in bottles to keep them standing

How To Play:

1. Set up 6-10 plastic bottles at end of slip ‘n slide
2. Players slide down on their stomachs, attempting to knock down pins
3. Award one point per pin knocked down
4. Players get two turns per round
5. First player to reach predetermined score wins
6. Consider team competition for larger groups

13. Pool Noodle Jousting

What You Need:

• Pool noodles (two per jousting match)
• Kiddie pool or slip-resistant surface
• Swimming attire

How To Play:

1. Two players stand facing each other
2. Each holds a pool noodle as their “lance”
3. On “go,” players attempt to gently tap opponent with noodle
4. Players must keep feet planted in original position
5. First to lose balance or step out of position loses the round
6. Tournament style works great for multiple players
7. Crown a “Royal Champion” with a pool noodle scepter

14. Splash Olympics

What You Need:

• Various water game supplies (sponges, buckets, water balloons)
• Scorecards
• Timer
• Homemade medals (optional)

How To Play:

1. Create 4-6 water game stations around your yard
2. Divide participants into teams or play individually
3. Rotate through stations, spending 5 minutes at each
4. Award points for performance at each station
5. Track scores on a central leaderboard
6. Host a “closing ceremony” with towel-wrapped champions
7. Award homemade medals for various achievements

15. Slippery Watermelon

What You Need:

• Watermelon
• Vegetable oil
• Swimming pool or kiddie pool
• Towels for drying hands

How To Play:

1. Coat a watermelon with vegetable oil
2. Place it in the pool
3. Divide into two teams on opposite sides
4. Teams attempt to push the watermelon to the opposing team’s side
5. No throwing the watermelon
6. First team to get watermelon to opposite end scores a point
7. Play to predetermined score, then enjoy watermelon as refreshment

16. Splash Contest

What You Need:

• Swimming pool or body of water
• Judges (parents work perfectly)
• Optional: measuring tape for scientific judging

How To Play:

1. Players take turns jumping into water
2. Judge splashes on creativity, height, sound, or water displacement
3. Consider categories: “Most Innovative,” “Highest Splash,” “Most Water on Judges”
4. Allow practice jumps before official attempts
5. Create a “splash zone” for judges who don’t mind getting wet
6. Award points out of 10 like professional diving

17. Human Car Wash

What You Need:

• Garden hose with spray nozzle
• Sponges
• Buckets of water
• Pool noodles
• Spray bottles
• Large play area

How To Play:

1. Create a course with different “washing stations”
2. Station 1: Light spray (pre-wash)
3. Station 2: Sponge scrubbing
4. Station 3: Pool noodle “brushes”
5. Station 4: Rinse station with gentle spray
6. Players run through car wash stations
7. Station attendants “wash” the runners
8. Switch roles so everyone experiences both sides

18. Ice Block Melting Race

What You Need:

• Large ice blocks (freeze water in plastic containers)
• Towels
• Sunny day

How To Play:

1. Give each player or team an identical ice block
2. Challenge them to melt it completely using any method except tools
3. Players can sit on ice, breathe on it, rub it on warm surfaces
4. First to completely melt their ice block wins
5. Works best on hot days when melting happens relatively quickly
6. Consider smaller ice blocks for younger children

19. Water Bucket Challenge

What You Need:

• Buckets (one filled with water, one empty per team)
• Plastic cups with holes poked in bottom
• Timer
• Outdoor space

How To Play:

1. Form teams in lines between a full bucket and empty bucket
2. First player fills cup with water from full bucket
3. Water begins draining through holes immediately
4. Player passes cup overhead to next teammate
5. Last player empties remaining water into empty bucket
6. Continue relay until time expires
7. Team with most water transferred wins
8. Optional: Blindfold some players for added challenge

20. Frozen T-Shirt Contest

What You Need:

• Cotton t-shirts (one per player)
• Freezer
• Timer

How To Play:

1. The night before: Soak t-shirts in water, fold tightly, freeze
2. Distribute frozen shirts to players
3. On “go,” players race to thaw and completely put on their shirt
4. No using tools or heat sources
5. First player to wear the fully unfolded shirt wins
6. Watch creative problem-solving approaches emerge
7. Body heat, sitting, stretching, and teamwork all create different strategies

21. Water Balloon Confetti

What You Need:

• Water balloons
• Confetti or glitter (biodegradable preferred)
• String for hanging
• Outdoor space

How To Play:

1. Fill balloons with water and add confetti before tying
2. Hang several from a tree or clothesline
3. Blindfold players or provide pool noodle “bats”
4. Players take turns trying to break the balloons
5. When broken, water and confetti create a surprising celebration effect
6. Consider as a grand finale for birthday parties or end-of-school celebrations

22. DIY Splash Pad

What You Need:

• Garden hose
• Duct tape
• Sharp scissors or knife
• Lawn sprinkler attachments (optional)
• Kiddie pool (optional)

How To Play:

1. Poke small holes in garden hose using sharp scissors
2. Seal one end with duct tape
3. Arrange hose in spiral or zigzag pattern
4. Secure with landscape stakes if needed
5. Connect to water source and turn on
6. Let kids run through the water jets
7. Add sprinklers or kiddie pool for extra splash zones
8. No formal “game” needed—the joy is in the running and getting soaked

23. Water Limbo

What You Need:

• Garden hose with gentle spray setting
• Two people to hold hose
• Music (optional)
• Outdoor space

How To Play:

1. Two people hold garden hose horizontally with gentle spray flowing
2. Players take turns limbo-ing under the water stream
3. Lower the hose after each successful round
4. If players get wet or touch the water stream, they’re out
5. Last dry player wins
6. Gradually increase water pressure for added challenge
7. Embrace the inevitable splashes as players contort themselves

24. Sponge Ball Target Practice

What You Need:

• Sponges cut into balls or sponge water bombs
• Chalk or tape
• Fence, driveway or large cardboard for target
• Buckets of water for re-soaking

How To Play:

1. Draw bullseye targets with chalk on fence, driveway, or cardboard
2. Assign point values to different rings (10 points for center, 5 for middle, etc.)
3. Players take turns throwing soaked sponge balls at targets
4. Keep track of points through multiple rounds
5. Create different throwing lines based on age/ability
6. Consider moving targets for advanced players
7. Highest score after predetermined rounds wins

25. Sprinkler Simon Says

What You Need:

• Lawn sprinkler
• Large playing area
• Creative “Simon”

How To Play:

1. One player is “Simon” and stands near sprinkler controls
2. Other players follow commands that begin with “Simon says…”
3. Commands include “Simon says hop through the sprinkler” or “Simon says do a sprinkler dance”
4. If Simon gives a command without saying “Simon says” and players follow it, they’re out
5. Last player following directions correctly becomes the new Simon
6. Combine traditional Simon Says with water-specific challenges
7. Perfect for keeping cool while building listening skills

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These games aren’t just super fun when cooling off on sweltering days—they also create those quintessential summer memories that somehow become more precious each year.

While digital entertainment has its place, there’s something timelessly special about hearing children’s uncontrollable laughter as they dash through water streams on a hot summer day.

So stock up on towels, prepare for puddles, and embrace the joyful chaos.