Outdoor Water Games For Kids To Beat The Heat

The whole school year your kids are stuck inside, so when summer comes it’s time to go outdoors and enjoy the warm weather while getting active. There are so many family activities for summer fun. Yet sometimes, the heat becomes unbearable, making it difficult to enjoy the outdoors when you are hot, sweating and sticky. Here are some practical ideas to help the entire family stay active while beating the heat. Here are several fun outdoor water games for kids to play so they can stay active while beating the heat.  Join in the fun and play as a family when you can!

15 Kids Outdoor Water Games

I’ll start off with a few basic outdoor water games but I also list some new water games you haven’t tried yet!

Water Balloon Hot Potato

One water games for kids option is to play a water balloon version of hot potato. Poke a small hole in a water balloon so that water leaks slowly and steadily. Then, toss it around a circle as quickly as you can. The person holding the water balloon when it is finally out of water is “out.”

Water Balloon Sliders

Want more backyard water games? If your yard has a playground with a slide, you can play water balloon sliders. Have one person roll a water balloon down the slide while the other tries to catch it without breaking. Take turns rolling and catching so everyone has a chance to get a little wet.

Have a Water Obstacle Race

Setting up a water obstacle race is another of the fun water games for kids.A cup of water can turn a basic relay race into loads of cool fun. The kids can spend time setting up and going over the obstacle course. Give each player a cup filled to the brim with water, then have him/her run through a course. The person who has the most water at the end is the winner. Along the way, plenty of water will be spilled on the players, helping them cool off.

Water Jump Rope Game

If your family prefers jumping instead of running, consider adding water to an old -fashioned jump rope competition. For this game you will need cups of water for each player, then a long jump rope. Fill the cups to the brim with cold water. Have each player take turns jumping rope 10 times (while other players swing it), holding the cup of water. The player that keeps the most water in the cup wins the game.

Water Balloon Fight

Consider water balloons as a fun way to beat the heat. A good old fashioned water balloon fight is one of my favorite outdoor water games for kids. My own memories of water balloon fights as a kid are still vivid and treasured. Give each child a container and let them each fill their own balloons. We always used to hide to start with and then sneak around trying to find the other person without them finding you first while you rain down water balloons upon their hiding spot!

Make Your Own Sprinkler

You don’t need a fancy sprinkler to enjoy some summer fun, you can actually make your own quite easily. One simple option is to take an empty 2-liter bottle, remove the label and poke some holes into it. Then, make the holes wider with a bamboo skewer. Once the bottle is ready, attach it to a hose using a ¾-inch-by-¾-inch female hose adapter, which will thread onto the bottle, and a rubber hose washer. Turn on the water and enjoy your homemade sprinkler. If you need a visual, Little Passpots has a great photo tutorial to show you how here.

Set Up A Slip And Slide

When I think of outdoor water games for kids, setting up a slip and slide, always comes to mind as a favorite from when I was little! I always just buy one at my local store but you could also get creative and make your own DIY slip and slide.

Duck, Duck, Splash

Play Duck, Duck, Goose but whenever someone would say goose, they pour a cup of water instead. To begin with have a rule that the goose must always be a person who is not yet wet.

Water Gun Tag

Another of the outside water games kids always love is water gun tag. Play it just like traditional versions of tag except instead of touching, you have to hit a person with water from your water gun.

Water Balloon Splat

If you have a number of water balloons, play “splat.” Have the players throw the balloon as high as possible into the air. Then, when it pops, use sidewalk chalk to outline the water “splat.” The player with the biggest splat is the winner. Another version of the same outside water games kids love is to have them see who can throw it the furthest with the water splat that reaches the furthest away as marked by chalk.

Water Balloon Batting Practice

Instead of a wiffle ball or a softball, use water balloons for batting practice. See who can burst the most balloons!

Water Balloon Pinatas

Another of the backyard water games your kids are sure to love is water balloon pinatas. You just fill up several big balloons part way with water and string the up from a strip or tree branch or laundry line and then let the kids have turns with a long stick to pop them. Make sure other kids stand clear of the one who is doing the swinging.

Have Sponge Ball Target Practice

You can make a bullseye eye target with an old cardboard box and have a sponge ball target practice. Keep track of hits and tally up points to see who wins. The kids can also use themselves as targets and see how many hits they can score on other kids in a 5 minute span.

Water Hose Limbo

Play limbo but instead of your traditional string or rope, use your water hose to create the stream that the kids must limbo under! So simple and so fun!

Water Balloon Bowling

Dig a bunch of plastic bottles or tin cans out of your recycling bin and fill them up half way with water. Then set them up like bowling pins and use a ball or a big water balloon as the bowling ball. Have fun!

Conclusion

Hot weather does not mean the end to outdoor play. With these water games for kids and a few cool treats, you can enjoy the summer outside without overheating! So ahead, get out there, and play backyard water games to beat the heat and have loads of fun. Which one of these outdoor water games for kids is your favorite? Please feel free to share any outside water games kids will love in the comments!

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