Swimming Pool Games for Kids of All Ages

Kids of all ages, from toddlers in their floating swimsuits to grannies in their swimdresses, can have fun playing games in the pool. The more people you have, the more fun these games will be. However, the babies and the grannies might prefer to sit out for a few of these rollicking adventures.

Water polo is a swimming sport in which two teams try to get a ball into a goal similar to a soccer or hockey goal. The teams each have a goalie, and the rules are very specific. In many colleges, the game is played in innertubes, making a fun intramural sport. Water polo can be simplified for fun in the backyard pool.

First, set up an appropriate target on each side to represent the goal. Each team needs a goalie and as many as 6 other members. All players need to stay in the water. Players must stop moving whenever they have the ball. They must throw it to a teammate or try to score a goal. No swimming with the ball allowed. Play for a designated length of time or until one team makes a desired number of goals. If the ball goes out of the water, the nearest goalie throws it back in.

The game, "Marco Polo," is nothing like water polo, but is more like "Blind Man's Bluff" played in the water. Designate someone to be "It." This person covers their eyes with their hands and counts to 10 while the other players find a spot in the pool. Then the "It" person has to try to find the other people and tag them. In order to locate them, "It" can call out "Marco," and everyone else has to answer, "Polo." "It" follows the voices to tag someone. Whoever is tagged becomes "It."
If desired, the non-"It" players can be allowed to get out of the pool as long as they have some body part in the water. They still have to yell "Polo," however.

Races are fun in the pool and there are many variations that can be played. For instance, all the contestants can float on swim noodles, innertubes, or other floaties, and propel themselves across the pool. Or form teams and have a relay race, with each contestant going across the pool and back, and then handing the floating toy to the next team member.

Another relay race idea that's a lot of fun is to have two extra large sweatshirts and get them wet. Divide the players into two teams. Each team member has to put the sweatshirt on, swim across the pool and back, and then take it off and give it to the next team member. This participant does the same thing. The winning team is the first to get all of their members across the pool and out of the sweatshirt. This game can be played with large T-shirts as well.

Contests are fun in the water, too. Throw coins over your shoulder backwards and let the participants try to find them in the pool. For an added challenge, paint some of the coins white, and offer a special prize if these are retrieved. Another idea is to play classical music through a boombox while teams compete to create the best water ballet.

A pool game that uses the intellect is "Categories." The leader chooses a category, such as colors, states, dog breeds, etc. The other players discuss among themselves what they will be. For instance, if the category is dog breeds, someone might choose poodle, someone else, boxer, etc. The leader is on one side of the pool, and the rest of the players are on the other side, touching the side of the pool. After a few moments, the leader begins to call out items from the category. If he calls out your choice, you have to swim to the other side of the pool before he swims to your side. If you beat him, you get to be the leader for the next round.

When tag is played in the pool, it is often called "Sharks!" Two players become the sharks and swim around trying to tag the others. Players who are tagged have to stay at the side of the pool until all players are tagged or the sharks give up.

A classic pool game that challeges all is called "Jump or Dive." This game requires a diving board and a deep end. Just as each participant runs to the end of the board, someone calls out either "Jump!" or "Dive!" The participant has to try to carry out the order.

Kids are fond of playing "pig" or "horse" with a basketball, but a variation of this game can be played in the pool. A leader jumps into the water in a particular style and all the others have to follow in turn. If they can't carry out the move, they get the first letter of "pig" or "horse." The next player gets to set the next style. Play continues until there is only one player who hasn't spelled pig or horse. A variation of this game is "chicken" which is played the same, except the players can chicken out if they are willing to do the chicken dance and squawk before jumping into the water.

You'll want to pay attention to basic safety rules, of course, because the swimming pool can be a very dangerous place. A zany time of laughter can turn into a tragedy in a moment. A qualified lifeguard is essential in all deep pool activities, and several responsible adults should always be on hand to spot the swimmers to make sure no one bumps a head on the sides or floor of the pool. Supervise the smaller children well, and protect them from overzealous older kids. Enforce rules against unnecessary roughness and other inappropriate behavior. Be sure to have a flotation device near the pool at all times, and don't let your children swim alone or without adult supervision. Also, don't let them walk on top of a pool while it is covered or swim in a partly covered pool.

Pay attention to safety and you and your kids can have a whale of a good time playing games in the swimming pool.