Spring is here and the temperatures are rising. Here are a couple of water games you and the kiddos can play in the pool over the summer. And if you don’t have a pool, here is the website for Austin Parks and Recreation to find a pool near you.

Colors
One of my kids favorite pool games. Choose a person to be “it”. “It” stands on the side of the pool with their back to the other swimmers who are lined up in the water on the same side of the pool as “it”. Players choose a color and keep it to themselves. “It” begins to call out colors one at a time. If a players color is called out they must try and make it to the other side of the pool as quietly as they can. If “it” hears them swimming then they can dive into the pool and try and tag a player. If “it” turns around and the players still have a hand on the side of the pool then “it” must take a step away from the edge and start again. If “it” catches a swimmer then the swimmer becomes the new “it”.

Octopus
Choose a person to be “it”. They stand in the middle of the pool. Players line up on one side of the pool and try swim to the other side without being tagged. The players who are tagged hold hands with “it” and for the next round all the players holding hands try and tag the swimmers as they try and make it to the other end of the pool. Keep going until all players have been tagged – then choose another “it” and start again.

Noodle Joust
Select 2 players to sit on a blow up raft in the middle of the pool. Give each one a pool noodle and have them joust with the noodles and try and get each other off the raft. The winner takes on the next player.

Marco Polo
Choose someone to be “it” They close their eyes and try and tag the other players. Whenever “it” calls out “Marco”, the players must answer “Polo”. If “it” tags a player then that player becomes “it”. If you allow players to get out of the pool while playing the game then if “it” calls out “Fish out of water!” and there is someone outside the water then that person becomes “it”. If there is more then 1 person outside of the water then “it” gets to choose who takes their place.

Jump or Dive
Players line up on the side of the pool and one person stands away from them in the water. All players must jump into the pool on the word “go”. The person in the pool calls out “Jump!” or “Dive” and the players must try and obey the command while in the air. If they do the wrong command they must sit out.

These are just a couple of games you can play. Now go out and have some fun.