Water games are a must for any outdoor summer party, playdate or family gathering. They cost next to nothing, take almost no time to set up, and are one of the best ways to cool everyone down on a warm day.
If the sun is out, these wicked water games for kids will keep them happily splashing in the garden for hours – so clear the afternoon, grab some towels, and maybe pack a few picnic snacks they can grab between rounds.
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Wicked Water Games for Kids
#1. Make a Slip and Slide
Spread a large plastic sheet or tarpaulin over the ground, ideally on a gentle slope. Drizzle a small amount of shampoo or liquid soap over it, then turn on the hose to keep it wet and slippery. Simple, cheap, and always a hit.
#2. Make Giant Bubbles to Stand Inside
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Whip up your own bubble mix and see if you can blow a bubble big enough to stand inside.
1. Pour enough bubble solution into a kiddie pool to cover the base in at least an inch of liquid (save any leftover clean solution for next time).
2. Place a clean hula hoop in the pool and carefully step into the middle of it, trying not to splash – foam makes the bubbles less effective.
3. Get two friends to grab either side of the hula hoop by the outer edge and lift it up together in one smooth movement. Done right, it should stretch into a bubble as high as they can reach.
Once someone’s inside the bubble, see who can stay in longest without it popping, or try tricks like touching your toes without bursting it.
#3. Water Painting
A gentle one for younger kids – hand them a bucket of water and a paintbrush and let them “paint” pictures on the ground, the shed, or the garden fence. No mess, no clean-up, just water evaporating in the sun.
#4. Play Water Balloon Dodgeball
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Fill a batch of water balloons and split them evenly between two piles at opposite ends of the garden. Divide into teams facing each other, and on the signal, start throwing. Every time a player is hit, the other team scores a point.
Play until the balloons run out, one team is completely out, or you reach an agreed points target.
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#5. Wet Sponge Relay
Split into two teams lined up behind a starting line. Each team needs an empty bucket and a large sponge, plus a filled bucket of water at the far end.
The first runner dashes to their team’s water bucket, dunks the sponge, races back, squeezes it into the empty bucket, then hands it to the next player. For extra fun and extra soakings, make everyone carry the sponge above their head on the way back.
#6. Water Limbo
Turn the garden hose on full and let everyone limbo under the stream of water. Once the whole group has gone under, lower the hose a little for the next round.
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#7. Water Tag
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Give each player a spray bottle, small bucket or water gun.
- One player is “It”.
- “It” can only freeze a player by spraying them with water.
- Frozen players can only be unfrozen by a teammate spraying them.
- If “It” manages to freeze everyone at once, they win and a new round begins.
#8. Wet Basketball
Set up a basketball hoop in the garden (or string up a hula hoop if you don’t have one). Split into two teams, hand each team a wet sponge, and see who can land the most “shots” through the hoop.
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#9. Sprinkler Statues
Start with the sprinkler or hose switched off. Players dance, jump and strike funny poses around the garden. The moment the water’s turned on, everyone has to freeze in position and take their soaking until it’s switched off again.
#10. Sponge Throw
You’ll need a bucket per player, two extra “team buckets”, and around 12 small kitchen sponges (6 per team), plus plenty of water.
- Split into two teams and line each team up single file.
- The first player in each line is the Thrower and stands about 2 metres in front of their team, back turned, with a bucket of 6 wet sponges. They throw the sponges backwards over their head one at a time, while the Catchers behind try to catch each one in their own bucket without stepping out of line.
- After each round, the Thrower wrings the caught sponges out into the team bucket. After three rounds, the team with the most water in their bucket wins.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age group are these water games suitable for?
Most of these games work well for primary school-aged kids and up. Younger children will enjoy simpler ones like water painting, sprinkler statues or gentle sponge games, while older kids and even adults will get a kick out of water balloon dodgeball or the sponge throw.
What equipment do I need to get started?
Nothing fancy – a garden hose or sprinkler, a few buckets, sponges, water balloons and maybe a spray bottle or two will cover most of these games. Most households already have everything they need.
Are these games safe on a slope or slippery ground?
Games like the slip and slide are designed to be played on grass rather than hard or paved surfaces, and it’s worth keeping an adult nearby to supervise, especially with younger children.
How can I keep the fun going on a really hot day?
Rotate between a few different games, keep water and shade breaks handy, and consider turning it into a full garden party with a picnic in between rounds.
Related Articles
- 27 Cool, Creative and Fun Ideas for Water Play
- 13 Fantastic Free and Low-Cost Garden Games for Kids
- Get Active with These Fun Obstacle Course Ideas for Kids
- 11 of the Best Outdoor Activities for Kids to Stay Fit
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