Complete List of Fun Water Games and Activities for Kids this Summer

Did you know that the two hottest cities in Canada are Windsor, Ontario, and Kelowna, British Columbia? Or, that Kelowna ultimately wins out with temperatures at or above 30 degrees Celsius for more than 24 sizzling days each summer?

No matter where you live in Canada, we’re going to wager that you and your kids will long for a respite from the blazing temperatures at some point. While retreating into your air-conditioned home marks a relief, it’s not nearly as fun as water games.

What’s more, the right ones don’t require a lot of prep time or equipment. How do you get the summer fun going? Read on for our complete list of water games for kids.

Have a Ball!

With a handful of cheap balls, you can create a game that’ll keep kids amused for hours. Start by using ropes to mark off a square or circle on your lawn. Then, place balls of various weights and sizes within the rope boundary.

Hand your child a garden hose and task them with pushing each of the balls outside of the rope in less than 60 seconds using the water stream from the hose.

With more than one kid, you can turn this into a full-on competition that’ll have everyone soaked yet giggling.

Water Jump

Keep this game in the back of your mind for times and situations where you may not have access to other equipment or toys. Although incredibly simple, this game helps kids improve their coordination, and all ages will enjoy it.

Choose one individual to operate a garden hose. With a strong stream of water, have them snake the hose back and forth under the players’ feet while each participant attempts to jump over it.

Depending on the ages of the kids playing, you can increase the frequency of the water passes or put the stream a bit higher for an added challenge. The contestant with the driest feet wins.

Backyard Bathtime

This game is great for a variety of ages. That said, it’s gentle enough for infants, too. Grab your kiddie pool and fill it with bath toys and bubbles. Then, let your baby enjoy an outdoor bubble bath experience.

Although older kids may not appear interested in the bubble fun at first, give them the chance to opt-in, too. We’ve been surprised at how much our school-aged kids enjoy it. What’s more, it turns a daily routine into a fun summertime treat.

Tag with a Twist

Instead of the chaos that water gun fights so often dissolve into, tell your kids to play tag with those squirters. This also works great in a pinch when you don’t have enough water guns for everyone.

You see, only the person who’s “It” actually gets a water gun. Then, instead of tagging other players with their hands, they use the squirt gun.

Sponge Splash

This game requires a little more setup than some of the others. You’ll need at least two buckets per team and one sponge each. But it’s a great team-building activity that could be used to teach valuable lessons during a series of VBS water games.

For each team, fill one bucket with water. The other should start out dry. Then, give them a sponge and instruct them to take turns transferring all of the water from the full bucket to the empty one using just the sponge.

The first team to fill the dry bucket wins. This game also works for as few as two kids. For a solo player, time them as they race against the clock to complete the water task.

Water Table Fun

When it comes to water games for toddlers, you can’t beat a water table. It’s one of the easiest outdoor activities to set up. Yet, it can easily lead to hours of splash-splashy entertainment.

It also proves suitable for multiple toddlers if you’ve got a kiddo playdate in mind. And for added fun? Throw in extra plastic cups, measuring cups, and measuring spoons, and let the tactile play begin.

Visit a Splash Pad Park

For a little fun out and about, Google your nearest splash pad park. Then, grab your bathing suits and head out for a fun afternoon in the water. Splash pad parks or spray pools are springing up at recreational areas across North America.

What’s so great about them? Because there’s no standing water, they eliminate the need for lifeguards. And splash pad parks appeal to a wide variety of ages, which means you’ll find plenty of fun for every kid, from infants to school-aged.

Having trouble finding a splash pad park in your area? Try searching immersive fountains, water playgrounds, and wet plazas. Similar to splash pad parks, they all represent heat-friendly public spaces with loads of water amusements.

What SUP?

When you go on vacation, the outdoor water fun doesn’t have to end. Consider renting stand up paddleboards for the whole family! The sport proves highly kid-friendly, and it’s a great form of exercise.

What’s more, it requires little more than a board, paddle, and a life vest. This kayak-surf hybrid has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, and now you and your family can learn why.

Advantages of SUP abound. You can do it in almost any water conditions, which means no longer having to wait for the perfect wave. And you can paddle nearly anywhere there’s water, from lakes to oceans and even some rivers.

Besides traditional SUP paddling, a variety of other activities worth trying out on the board also exist. These include SUP yoga, SUP racing, and SUP surfing for starters. Find out more about SUP for kids, then let the fun begin!

Water Games Your Kids Will Adore

From sponge races to water tables, splash pad parks to SUP, you’ve got endless opportunities for fun when it comes to water games this summer. What’s more, they represent an excellent way to stay cool and happy when temperatures rise.

Ready for more tips that’ll keep you moving all summer long? Browse our online magazine for some more healthy lifestyle tips!