A family’s back yard can be a year-round haven for outdoor fun. During these summer months, there will be days when the heat is unbearable and your kids will want to have nothing to do with being outside. “It’s too hot outside to play” is what you’ll likely hear. However, you can easily turn their thinking around by adding water.
Try these five fun games to create an action-packed water park in your own back yard. Your sweltering back yard will take on a whole new kind of fun and your kids will forget how hot it is:
Water balloon toss – It is similar to the classic Egg Toss game. Instead of two kids tossing an egg back and forth, it’s a water balloon. Two kids face each other about a foot apart. Begin by tossing the water balloon to each other. After each kid has a turn tossing, everyone takes a small step back and each kid tosses again. It will become harder with each step taken back. Play until the balloon breaks. If you have an odd number of kids, arrange the kids in a circle together and toss between players. It will be more of a challenge than a competition.
Dribble, dribble, drench! This game is a water version of Duck, Duck, Goose. Have the kids sit in a circle facing each other. Place a bucket of water in the centre. Choose someone to be “It.” This kid goes to the bucket to retrieve a water-soaked sponge. “It” walks around the circle and says, “Dribble, dribble” above the heads of other kids until “It” chooses who they want to drench. “It” says “drench” and squeezes out as much water on this person. “It” runs around the circle and tries to sit in the empty spot before they get tagged. If they get tagged, they are out. Play until there is only one person left, the winner. By the end, everyone will be drenched and definitely cooled off.
Sprinkle freeze dance – An oscillating sprinkler is needed to make this game happen. Turn up the music and everyone dances around the sprinkler while trying not to get wet. Stop the music and everyone freezes in their spot. Allow enough time for the sprinkler to make a pass. If the sprinkler gets someone wet, they must remain frozen. If they move, they are out. Turn the music back on for another round. Keep this up until there is only one left who isn’t wet – they’re the winner!
Water limbo – This well-known game comes alive with a stream of water in place of a limbo pole. A hose with a nozzle is required to make a straight, steady stream. Each kid makes their way under the stream without touching the water. Lower the stream after every kid makes a pass under it. Kids can start off by walking under it while arching their back. However, over time the wet grass can get slippery, a kid could easily lose their footing and get hurt. Go loose on the rules and encourage them to crawl like a baby, hop like a frog and slither like a snake.
Water freeze tag – This all-time favorite game takes on a new twist by tagging someone by squirting them with water. Thoroughly rinse an empty dish detergent bottle and fill with water. Now you have your tagger device! An important rule is to aim only from the chest down. Getting sprayed in the face could lead to unwanted water in the eye and some hurt feelings.
The kid who is “It” will squirt at other players. If a kid gets wet from a squirt, then they must freeze in place. To be unfrozen, another player crawls under their legs to unfreeze them. Play until every kid has a turn being “It.”
So when the days are hot and your kids still want to be outside, you now have five fun ways to keep them cool outside.
Keep in mind they will be out in the sun, so coat them in sunscreen and have water on hand to stay hydrated. Trying these new back yard games will help keep your kids active, out of the house and smiling all summer.
Sara is a freelance writer and mother of two daughters.
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