Five of the Best Pool Games for Kids

During the hot, hazy days of summer, there’s no better sound than that of children joyfully splashing around in the pool together. Why not make their time even more exciting by suggesting they play a few games? As always, make sure you keep a watchful eye of them while they play. You may find you have almost as much fun as they are! Here are six popular games your kids are sure to love!

 Marco Polo. This classic is one of the most popular pool games for kids. It is tag in the water. The person who is it closes his or her eyes and yells “Marco” while the remaining players yell “Polo” while swimming around the pool to try and avoid getting caught. Make sure the kids play this game in shallow water.

Sharks and Minnows. This game is typically played in the deep end of the pool. One person is the shark, and the rest are the minnows. The shark usually starts in one side of the water, with the remaining players on the deck. The shark will call out, “Sharks and minnows, one, two, three, fishies, fishies, swim to me!” The minnows may then jump in the pool and swim to the other wall. If the shark is able to touch a minnow before he or she reaches the wall, that person is the shark in the next round of the game. The game is over when all the minnows have either reached the wall or been tagged by the shark.

Popsicle. This is freeze tag designed for the pool. When someone is tagged, he or she must stand straight with their hands above their head—like a popsicle. A player can only be unfrozen by someone swimming underwater, who then has to tag them. This player cannot be tagged by the person who is it while swimming underwater.

Invisi-bottle. To play this exciting game, fill an empty, clear, two-liter plastic bottle with pool water. Choose a white cap, or a cap the same color as your in-ground pool liner. Have the players line up on the pool deck with their backs to the water. Throw the bottle in the pool. When they hear it splash, they can turn around, jump in and try to find it. It is more challenging than it seems since the bottom of the pool will camouflage the bottle.

Octopus. Think of this game as Red Rover in the water. Players must try to get from one side of the pool to the other without being tagged by the person who is it. When a player is tagged, he or she must stand in the middle of the pool—holding hands with others as they get tagged. As subsequent players keep getting tagged, they will form a long line in the middle of the pool (the octopus). Play until one person is left, then start over again.

Choosing any of one of these games is bound to result in endless summer fun—and a lifetime of happy memories. Remember to always have a responsible adult supervising the play. If you are young at heart, you may want to join in the fun!