As summer approaches, that heat index starts to rise as well. What better way to keep cool and inspire some backyard fun than to break out the kiddie pool and set up for an afternoon full of fun and sun? The setup and clean-up are a breeze for parents and the playtime is magical for the kiddos! Check out this fun list of 20 games that will keep kids begging for more time to splash in their kiddie pools!
1. Sponge Run
As pool season approaches, be sure to have a small kiddie pool or inflatable pool to use for outdoor water activities. The sponge run is a great way to cool off and get little bodies active! All you need is a pool with water, a bucket, and some sponges to create this wet relay race. The first one to get enough water squeezed from their sponges to fill their bucket wins!
Learn more: Play Party Plan
2. Toe Diving
Toe diving is a fun take on a ring toss! Fill your inflatable or plastic pool and toss in the rings. Who can get them all first? The trick is that you have to pick them up with your toes! No hands! This is a quick and easy kiddie pool activity!
Learn more: Play Party Plan
3. Floating Books
Little ones love pictures in books! Fill up a baby pool with water and toss in some floating, waterproof books. Your little one will be ready for a literacy-based kiddie pool adventure as they read their books and enjoy their pool!
Learn more: Educatall
4. Water Ball Squirt
One fun pool game is water ball squirt. Put a small ring float in the pool and aim for the center. You could use water guns to practice hand-eye coordination while playing a fun game! This could also be done with a small hula hoop.
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5. Sponge Ball Target Game
This game is fun with a larger kiddie pool. Make small sponge balls by cutting up sponges and tying or sewing them together. Toss the sponge balls onto the targets in the pool. To keep things really interesting, keep score to see who wins!
Learn more: Fun Loving Families
6. Muddy Trucks Play
The muddy trucks car wash will be a big hit for little boys and little girls. After some fun and muddy sensory play, let children turn their kiddie pools into a car wash. Go from messy to clean! The best part is that the kids will handle the clean-up for you! This activity can provide hours of fun!
Learn more: Busy Toddler
7. Alphabet Scooping Game
Sand or beans can serve as a base in the bottom of the kiddie pool for this activity. It works in a plastic pool or a cheap blow-up kiddie pool. Give kids a net and let them scoop out hidden foam alphabet letters. Make it more challenging by asking them to say the letter name or sound or give you a word that starts with that letter.
Learn more: Busy Toddler
8. Rice Pool
Skip the sand and opt for rice for this activity. Children will enjoy the sensory play they get with the tiny grains of rice and using containers to move it or small cars and trucks to play. The possibilities are endless for this kiddie pool time!
Learn more: Busy Toddler
9. Diving for Treasure
Diving for treasure is a fun activity and great for kiddie pool weather! Enjoy the sunshine while you let your little ones "dive" for treasure. They can wear goggles and mimic apple bobbing, but they can keep little treasures you throw out in the bottom of the kiddie pool.
Learn more: Orlando Family Magazine
10. Water Gun Tag
Water gun tag works with any kiddie pool and any water gun. You could use super soakers, small water blasters, or even pool noodle water guns. Just like the game of tag, kids will run around, returning to refuel their water guns at the kiddie pool and having a blast!
Learn more: Family Education
11. Drip, Drip, Drop
Much like Duck, Duck, Goose, this water version is fun because you wait to get wet. You never know who will be picked! Be ready for the fall of water and the surprise of getting soaked!
Learn more: Family Education
12. Backyard Bath
A backyard bath can be tons of fun! Add some bath toys and even bubbles to add the bath time element to the outdoor setting as your child relaxes in the kiddie pool!
Learn more: Family Education
13. Fair Garden
Turn any plastic kiddie pool into a fun fairy garden! Add plants and flowers with small figurines. Little ones will have fun playing with fairy gardens. Or try a dinosaur garden if your little one doesn't love fairies!
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14. Squeeze and Fill
Squeeze and fill is similar to the sponge relay. Let little ones use animals and balls to get plenty of water soaked up and then squeezed into buckets. Who can fill their bucket fastest?
Learn more: Lemon Lime Adventures
15. Colored Ice Pool Play
Colored ice can be a fun twist for kiddie pool play! Freeze ice with food coloring added to give a variety of colors. Let kids spend time melting the colored ice and making a colorful masterpiece in their kiddie pool!
Learn more: Lemon Lime Adventures
16. Splash Dance
Who doesn't love to dance? Let your little ones have a splash dance in their kiddie pool! Turn on some fun summer tunes and let them boogie in the water, splashing and playing!
Learn more: Pure Wow
17. Jumbo Water Beads
Any variety or versions of water beads will be tons of fun! Imagine how much fun a whole kiddie pool of water beads will be! Kids will enjoy the sensory play and using small tools to capture water beads!
Learn more: Toddler Approved
18. Pool Noodle Boats
These pool noodle boats can be so much fun in a plastic tub or a kiddie pool! Blow the boats across the pool with a straw. Kids will enjoy making their boats and testing them out!
Learn more: See Vanessa Craft
19. Splish Splash
Splish splash and make waves in your kiddie pool. For added fun, add some rainbow soap, just remember to keep it kid-friendly so no one's eyes burn! Bring in the hose to add an extra element of splashing to the fun!
Learn more: Family Education
20. Toe Jam
Slime plus a kiddie pool equal toe jam! Kids of all ages will enjoy feeling the slime slide between their toes. Add some small objects for kids to pick up with their toes! Tons and fun and lots of laughs are guaranteed with this kiddie pool activity.
Learn more: Stuff You Can Use
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