Indoor and Outdoor Water Games for Kids

Help kids cool off in the summertime with outdoor water games. You are able to play water games inside your backyard, even if you don’t have a pool. Create a fun, wet setting of these activities by setting up sprinklers round the yard for children to run through between games. Don't be concerned if the outdoor water games eventually devolve into simple splashing.

Slip-n-Slide Relay
Spread a sizable plastic tarp out on a wide open, grassy area. Cover the tarp with water and baby shampoo to really make it slippery. If possible, set up a hose or sprinkler to operate water over the tarp to help keep it wet. Divide players into teams of three or four and also have the teams line up behind one end from the slip-n-slide, making sure that each team has lots of space. Players take turns sliding down the tarp and back after which tagging the next player in line. The very first team to finish the relay wins. To help make the relay more difficult, have players play a bat at the end of the tarp before you run back to tag their teammate.

Water Balloon Relays
Water balloons give a great source of wet and wild fun for kids. Fill plenty of water balloons games before beginning any water balloon relays, and keep filled balloons inside a cooler. For the balloon sandwich relay, divide children into pairs, and line the pairs up consecutive. Have the pairs race to accomplish an obstacle course while holding a filled water balloon between their backs. If your team drops or pops its balloon, it has to return to the start. For the balloon squash relay, divide children into groups of four or five players each. Convey a large plastic tarp within an open area, and have teams fall into line around the edges of the tarp. Convey a cooler of fun water game near the core tarp. Players on each team alternate running to the center of the tarp, located on a water balloon to pop it after which returning to tag the next player in line.

Color Guard
Water balloon color guard puts a wet twist on classic tag. Fill a bucket or any other container with water balloons of various colors. Select one child to experience the color guard. He must stand near the bucket and close his eyes as the remaining players choose one water balloon each to carry. Players then spread themselves out about 10 paces from the guard. The color guard must on-site visit a color, and then all players with balloons of this color must try to toss their balloon in to the bucket without being tagged by the guard.