My kids love to play in the pool with their friends, and I always enjoy watching them. While just relaxing on floats is fun for me, they prefer swimming activities and pool games. Here are several fun pool game ideas to get you started. However, sometimes my kids get stuck for something fun to do and that is when we invent our own swimming pool games. Here is how we do that too!
Fun Swimming Pool Game Ideas
There are lots of games and swimming activities that you can start the kids off with. Here are several of what we think are the best pool games.
Dolphin
Basically kids hold their breath and see who can swim underwater the longest.
Marco Polo
One person is selected to be Marco and must play with his eyes shut. When he calls out Marco, everyone else must answer Polo. Marco uses their voices to locate and tag a player who then becomes Marco. Polo players must respond with Polo no mater how close they are to Marco. There is a also a “Fish out of water” twist where Polo players can risk getting out of the pool to escape but if Marco says Fish out of water while they are out of the pool, they are automatically out.
Treasure Hunt
Toss a coin to the bottom of the pool and see who can find it first.
Scavenger hunt
Toss pairs of items in the water, and players find one of each.
Sharks and Minnows
You need 3 or more players. One person is the “shark,” and everyone else is a “minnow.” The shark starts in the middle, and the minnows try to swim from one side to the other without getting tagged by the shark. If a minnow is tagged, they become a shark too.
Octopus
You need 4 or more players. One person is “It,” standing in the middle while others line up at one end of the pool. Players try to swim to the other side without getting tagged. If tagged, they link arms with “It” to form an octopus, making it harder for others to get across without being tagged.
Pool Tag
Chose one of the family to start and they have to chase around after everyone until they touch another person. The other person is the chaser.
Fishy In The Middle
The swimming version of the popular children’s game ‘piggy in the middle’. This is a ball game in which you all stand in a circle with one member of the family in the middle. Everyone throws a ball to each other over the centre in which the middle person has to intercept and gain possession of the ball. The person who last threw the ball before it was caught then swaps places and enters the middle of the circle.
Tug Of War With A Pool Noodle
Form teams and see who can pool the noodle away from the other team.
Fetch
Throw something to the opposite side of the pool and have underwater races to go and retrieve it.
Silence
One person stands outside of the pool facing away. Everyone else has to swim across the pool to the other side as silently as possible before the person outside realizes they have started out and then is free to chase them.
Watermelon Push Relay
Use a small, light watermelon (or ball) and divide players into teams. The goal is to push the “watermelon” from one side of the pool to the other without using hands—only heads and noses!
When they have worn out playing Marco Polo and all the other pool games they know, that’s when an interesting dynamic occurs as they figure out new pool games on their own. It’s a real learning experience for them, and I treat it that way.
Why and How To Have Kids Make Up Their Own Swimming Activities
Learning creativity.
“Mom, we’re bored, we need something to do.” Of course, I could step in and give them suggestions, but that’s like the old story about giving someone a fish – it’s better to teach them to fish. They don’t learn as much when someone else tells them everything they need to do. I’ve found some wonderful pool games at sites like Babble. So I may give them a brief sketch of an idea to start from, such as “what if one person is a shark, and he tries to catch the others?”
They will take that seed of an idea, and blow it up into what appears to be a complex game, making refinements as they discuss how the game will be played. They will pull in diving boards, pool toys, and either divide into teams or make one of the kids some kind of “it” person. I love watching that process, and knowing that these kids are learning skills that will benefit them in later life. They are developing their creativity while they play.
The group dynamic.
These kids are going to end up being in a committee some time in their lives, whether it’s in business or at the church – it’s almost inevitable. When they develop new pool games, and start making up rules and dividing into teams – they are learning a valuable lesson about working together. It’s fascinating to watch leaders emerge, the group working together to determine the strategy for their team, and a game that they enjoy unfolding before my eyes. Do I understand the games they create – usually not, but that doesn’t matter.
Ingenuity and negotiation.
When someone finds a hole in the rules, it’s hilarious to watch one of the kids try to exploit that gap, and take advantage. “ Hey – Jimmy jumped out of the pool when he was about to get caught – that’s not right!” Apparently, that wasn’t discussed in the rules session. When the group catches it, the game will stop for a discussion. Was that a valid move, and if not, what can we do about it? I wonder if I’m looking at future politicians debating the pros and cons of a new law.
Just let them play.
Once the kids are on the trail of a new pool game – I have to get out of the way and just let them have fun. They’re figuring out what they want to do, and how to do it. There’s a woman down the block who I call a “helicopter Mom.” She hovers over her kids in the pool, directing everything they are doing. It makes me cringe, because she is taking away from a very valuable learning experience. When I’m watching this fascinating process unfold before my eyes, I just lean back in my lounge chair and smile.
At first, I didn’t fully appreciate just how much was happening when the kids were playing in the pool and creating new pool games. They were developing relationships skills, creativity, and learning how to work in groups. There was much more going on than just play, and it taught me an important lesson about how kids learn.
Swimming Pool Safety Tips For Parents
As it gets hot, swimming in the pool is a relaxing way to cool off and beat that heat. However, it isn’t relaxing for long if you and your kids aren’t on the same page about summer safety. So, before you head out to buy the board shorts and sunscreen, make sure to review some basic pool safety tips. Yep, you have probably heard them before but a refresher course is always a good idea. Review these safety tips before the swimming pool games begin.
Never Allow Children To Swim Alone
Under no circumstance should a child ever be allowed to swim in a pool alone – or a lake or a creek or any large body of water. I don’t even need to mention the ocean, do I!? If children are very young or not good swimmers, then life jackets or floats on their arms should be always be used.
Enroll Children In Swimming Lessons
Learning to swim is especially important for younger children. However, people of all ages can get swimming lessons to learn to swim properly. It is never too late to teach an old dolphin new tricks – or something like that! Lessons can be fun and done as a group activity, or with mom and dad. Plus, it is much easier to learn to swim at a young age so don’t skip the swimming lessons.
Always Have Pool Floats At Hand
No matter whether your kids know how to swim or not, it’s better to always have pool floats at hand. The pool is big fun and kids can lose control anytime while swimming and playing pool games. Having custom pool floats of different sizes at the poolside will make you more confident. In case you are a bit far from them, the floats will be a great support. There are various kinds of pool floats like mattresses, tubes, loungers, balls, etc. They can also be custom-shaped and personalized so that each of the family members can have his own designed one. Do not rely on pool floats. Children still need supervision at all times but the floats are a useful helper.
Understand The Basics Of Lifesaving
It can take just a few seconds for a person, especially a child, to begin drowning in a swimming pool. It is hugely important for pool safety that you, or anyone in your family who is around a pool, knows the basics of lifesaving. If an emergency happens, simply knowing CPR or how to get water out of someone’s lungs can literally save a life and buy precious time until the proper help can arrive.
Make And Enforce Swimming Pool Rules
Swimming pool rules such as “No Diving” or “No Running” are put in place for a reason. That reason is to save lives. Diving is a safety risk if done in shallow water. Running on slick surfaces can result in someone falling around the pool or falling into the pool. Any rules that are established should be strictly enforced to keep all the family members around the pool safe. And if your neighborhood pool doesn’t really have great rules, then make up your own. Tell your kids that unless the rules are followed you will all be headed home… and the only water fun will be with the backyard hose!
Keep Away From Pool Filters And Drains
Pool filters and drains often have a suction effect that can trap smaller individuals. It is important for children and young adults to keep away from these areas in the pool to avoid any kind of accident and never stick your hand or arm inside these areas. Small fingers can easily get stuck or cut or worse.
Family Pool Games Conclusion
These swimming pool games are great for pool parties or just a family day at the pool! Playing swimming games is interactive and gets everyone involved. It is also excellent for keeping the kids active! It is great exercise that doesn’t seem like working out and it will tire them out in time for bed. Have you ever made up any fun pool games you want to share? We’d love to hear about your pool games in the comments!
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Parenting Tips at Uplifting Families says
Thanks for sharing some fun swimming pool games that everyone can enjoy. I always loved diving for things in the deep end of the pool as a child.
Becky Flanigan says
Thank for sharing these great pool activities for kids. These will help keep them busy!