11 Water Activities for Summer Your Kids Will Love

Next time it’s too hot to do regular outdoor activities, consider including the below items in your summer itinerary.

Purchase a Kiddie Pool

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A kiddie pool is an excellent way to keep kids cool in the summer. All you need is a kiddie pool, which most large retailers carry, a watering hose, and water. Fill up the kiddie pool with cool water, and your kids can have a fun place to lounge in warmer months.

The best part about this choice is that it is budget-friendly. Instead of spending a large amount of money at a water park, consider purchasing a kiddie pool instead.

Fight with Water Balloons

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You can never go wrong with a friendly water balloon fight! This is another budget-friendly option that only requires balloons and a water source. If you'd prefer that your kids didn't have a water balloon fight, you can set up outdoor water games as an alternative.

These games can include fun things like water balloon toss or an obstacle course using water balloons. When the balloons pop, they provide a refreshing splash of water for everyone.

Use Spray Bottles

Perhaps you'd rather avoid water guns but still want a fun option for summertime. If that's the case, you can use spray bottles filled with water as replacements for water guns or other similar water “weapons.”

Spray bottles are typically readily available, with the option to purchase a few from the dollar store. Fill the bottles with water and let your kids play to their hearts' content. Since the spray bottles have a weaker stream than water guns, your children can safely spray each other.

Play Fun Water Games

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Besides water games involving water balloons, there are quite a few other game options that your kids can partake in. For example, you can set up a game of “Go Fish,” water game edition. Pour water into a large bowl with blue food coloring and add plastic fish toys.

Using a strainer, you can challenge your kids to compete and see who can find the most toys in each round. You can even play a game of duck, duck, goose using water. Get creative and see how many of your favorite games, like an egg and spoon race, you can turn into a water-related activity.

Grab a Slip'n'Slide

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Nothing screams summer more than a slip and slide in the yard. Whether your kids prefer a straightforward option or one with all the bells and whistles, there’s a slip and slide for everyone. For nostalgic fun, don your bathing suit and take a few turns on the slip and slide with your children.

If you don’t want to spend a large sum of money on a slip and slide, you can use a long piece of tarp and a gardening hose. Lay the tarp flat and use the garden hose to help your kids slide down the tarp.

Head to the Beach/Pool

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You can't beat a trip to the local beach or pool. Spending the day at one of these options means the whole family can beat the heat. Swim, lounge, or play in the water and you’ll have plenty of fun under the sun.

Don’t forget to pack snacks, lunch, water bottles, and the other essentials when planning a day at the beach or pool. Bring additional toys and accessories for extra entertainment, such as a pool noodle, inflatable water loungers, a water football, etc.

Set Up a Water Run

If you grew up creating runs for marbles, you'll enjoy spending time with your kids creating a water run. The main difference between a marble run and a water run is that you'll redirect water through an obstacle course. What's fun about this activity is that you can do it inside the house, in the backyard, or where you have room.

Grab household items like a plastic cup, pool noodles, and anything you can find to help guide the water through the course. Don’t forget to grab glue or duct tape to help build the course. For even more fun, you can dye the water blue and add boat toys so you can watch them travel through the pool noodles.

Water Play with Metal Bowls

This option is great for younger kids and only requires a few household items. Grab some metal bowls, spoons, pom poms, and take them outside for water play. Fill each bowl with a few cups of water, and let your kids play in the bowls! They can splash, marvel at the mirror-like effect of the bowls, and bang the bowls with utensils.

By allowing your kids to play, you’re letting them discover and explore sounds and visuals. Since this activity is geared toward younger children, you must monitor your kids while they do outdoor water play.

Run Through Sprinklers

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You likely already have sprinklers at home for watering your plants and trees in the yard. Have your kids put on their swimsuits, turn on the sprinklers, and let them run through the refreshing spurts of water.

Alternatively, you can create an outdoor obstacle course and include the sprinkler for a fun twist. Sprinklers are quite versatile in the summer. You can even use them when making your own slip and slide.

Wash the Family Cars

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This might seem like an odd activity to choose to help your kids stay cool in the summer. However, washing the cars can be a fun experience and a productive one simultaneously. Make the car wash into an exciting event by planning music and dancing around in between cleaning the cars.

Find a Nearby Splashpad

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If you're looking for an additional activity for younger kids, find the nearest splash pad. Splash pads include water fountains, areas with "rain," and other sensory activities. Scheduling a trip to a splash pad is a great option when you're short on time and can't put together an activity at home.

You can bring some toys for your kids, though it’s not required as they’ll have plenty of fun playing in the water.

Next time you're feeling the heat, try planning a few of the above water activities for summer. These activities are great for kids of all ages and even adults! You'll have an exciting summer with these kid-friendly activities, from splash pads to water balloon fights.