Coolest Kid Pool Party Games
Many of the ideas for pool party games on this page have been graciously submitted by visitors like yourself. If you've got any cool ideas to add, take a moment and submit them using the form below. You'll be taking part in creating the Web's ultimate kid birthday party resource that's ALWAYS FREE for everyone to enjoy!
For these pool party games, you'll need a... pool. If you don't have one, you can try renting the community center's pool or taking the party to a nearby lake (if you're lucky enough to live near one.).
But don't worry. If there's no large body of water in your vicinity, you can opt to choose these excellent water games that don't require a pool ;-).
And, of course, if you're throwing a Wet-n-Wild party, here are some of the coolest Wet-n-Wild theme party ideas.
Word of caution: Before the kids jump in, there are several things to take in account when preparing pool party games. Safety is the most important thing to consider. Always maintain a high adult-to-child ratio, while not forgetting that the younger the kids are, the more adult supervisors you need. Try to minimize diving and jumping into the pool; simply keep the games in the water. And have everyone drinking like camels and using sun block.
Crossing the River
String two ropes the length of the pool and divide the group of kids into two teams. You will need two "rafts" (anything that the kids can float on, preferably keeping somewhat dry, but not that stable…). Then split each team in two and put each sub-group facing each other on opposite sides of the pool (standing next to the rope).
The first kid in line from each team must climb onto the raft, pull the raft to the other side using the rope, climb off and let one of the team members on the other side do the same. Continue with the others. The first team to finish OR the team with the least wet team members win.
Pinata
Yes, you can even incorporate the classic Pinata into your pool party games. Make your own pinata full of little water gifts such as sunglasses, squirt guns, swimming goggles, etc. (Here are directions for making a pinata). Hang the pinata over the pool and have the kids hit it as they jump in.
Long Jump
Have all the kids line up behind the diving board. Be the judge yourself or assign someone to be the judge (the judge should be in the water so they can have a clear look of what is happening). The judge puts a small floatie (should be something fairly soft) about a foot away from the diving board, and each player has to jump over it. After everyone has had one turn, the judge moves the floatie out another foot. You're out if you touch the floatie while trying to jump over it. The furthest jumper wins.
Remember to submit your own pool party games below...
Dog Race
This race is for youngsters that can swim the dog paddle (just like a dog). Line all the kids up on the edge of the pool and whistle when everyone is ready. The kids jump in and begin to dog paddle to the other side, get out, and bark three times. First one to finish wins.
Jumping Jellyfish
For this pool party game, have all the kids stand at the edge of the deep end and choose someone to be "IT". IT then tries to make the players laugh, and each time they laugh IT gets to push them into the water. The last person who doesn't laugh can either be IT or choose someone else to be IT.
Treasure Dive
Divide the kids into two teams and have each team stand on a different side of the pool. Then go to the middle of the pool and toss in a bunch of treasures (it can be things that float and also things that sink). See which team can bring back the most.
Cannonball Splash
In this game, the kids compete to see who can make the biggest splash. Divide the kids into two groups - one for the cannonballs and the other group as a team of judges. The cannonball group line up behind a diving board and have to make the biggest splash to get the highest vote. The judges are the voters and give each person a vote out of ten. (An adult is needed to decide what the majority of the judges want to give each person). Tip: don't forget to have your cameras ready!! This is an amazing opportunity to take a picture of each kid right when they are about to splash. You can send each kid their picture when sending out the thank-you cards.
Tug-O-War
Just put a rope across the pool and whichever team loses falls in like dominoes.
Looking for more pool party games?
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Pool Party Games Contributed by Other Visitors
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Wet T-Shirt Pool Party Game
You divide into 2 teams. You take a wet t-shirt for each team. On the mark of 'Go', the kids put on the t-shirt (swimming with a t-shirt on is harder ...
Waterballoon Dodgeball Game
Choose a person to be IT. IT starts out with a whole lot of water balloons which he/she tries to throw at everyone. Every person who gets hit has to help ...
Water Balloon Toss
Objective: Try to catch water balloons! With each successful catch move further and further apart.
Rules: Pair off players into groups of two and ...
Water Bomb Pool Party Game
Fill lots of balloon water bombs and place them in the pool. I bought a packet of 100 for $2.On go, kids jump in and collect as many as they can hold (without ...
Whirlpool Pool Party Game
one person is chosen to stand in the middle of the pool, and everyone else stands around the edges. On "GO" everyone on the edges starts running around ...
Marco Polo - Pool Party Game
Now, Who hasn't heard of Marco-Polo?
This is a traditional pool game in which the person who is it (or Marco) closes their eyes and shouts "Marco!". The ...
The Slippery Watermelon - A Pool Party Game
Apply baby oil to a watermelon. Put the watermelon in the middle of the pool. The first child to jump in, retrieve the watermelon and bring it back to ...
Colors - A Pool Party Game
1st, choose someone to be "IT". The person who is it stands on the edge of the pool (so they are ready to jump).
2nd, the players that are not "IT" are ...
Categories - A Pool Party Game
one person is "it" and the other people are on the other side of the pool. The person who is "it" shouts out a category (ex. fruit). Then they start saying ...
Water Balloon Bust
You will need small water balloons for this game.
Split into two teams, and give each team a bucket of small water balloons.
On the mark of "GO"...
Chicken Fall Pool Game
You will need pairs of two. One kid will be sitting on top of the other's shoulders (this takes place in the shallow or mid-deep end of the pool so that ...
Stacking Turtles Pool Party Game
For this pool party game you need large-sized inflatable pool toy(s) - the more people, the bigger the toys should be.
Each person must swim to the ...
Fashion Show Dives
Have the kids step on to the diving boards and do a fancy walk then they must dive there best dive. The judge decides who wins the diving fashion show....
Duck Race - A Pool Party Game
To play this fun pool game, provide a plastic floating duck for each pool party guest. Have players line up at one end of the pool with their ducks in ...
Dive For Treasure In One Breath Pool Game
Not rated yet
Get lots of sinking toys, and throw them into the pool. Split the kids in 2 teams and 1 person goes from each team and tries to get as many toys from the ...
Water Leap Frog Pool Game
Not rated yet
In this leap frog game you have to go under instead of over! All the players make a line in front of each other with their legs spread wide apart. The ...
Handstand Pool Contest
Not rated yet
First get a stopwatch. Then, taking turns, have everyone do their best handstand in the pool. Have a few judges who rate them from 1 to 10 on how straight ...
Greased Watermelon Pool Race
Not rated yet
Similar to the Slippery Watermelon Pool Game just this time A RACE. This game seems more suitable for older kids who have no problem swimming.
Have ...
Race and Bet On It Pool Party Game
Not rated yet
This game is a lot of fun if you like bets! You will need at least 3 people. First you have to race to the end of the pool and back. The loser has to do ...
Matching Items Pool Game
Not rated yet
In the pool there will be quite a few water balloons spread out, and lots of matching items, such as: Bat and ball, knife and fork, key and lock, two matching ...
Dibble Dabble Pool Game
Not rated yet
Go inside and ask your parents for a clear water bottle cap. Then grab a couple of your friends to play. What you do is one person jumps in the pool and ...
Silent Marco Polo Pool Game
Not rated yet
Played just like the regular Marco Polo except you have to be quiet. Kids can splash to confuse the person who is IT but don't splash too much or you'll ...
Sharks and Minos Water Game
Not rated yet
There has to at least be 10 people playing this game.
First to see who the Shark is, you have all the kids on one side of the pool(it has to be in ...
Red Light Green Light Pool Game
Not rated yet
Up to 8 people can play, and there has to be an adult at the end of the pool. The adult shouts, red light, and the kids stop swimming; or, green light
...
Find the Waterbottle Pool Game
Not rated yet
Fill the waterbottle up with pool water then let it sink down to the bottom. While its sinking close your eyes for 15 seconds. Then try to find the waterbottle!...
Wet Water Rodeo Pool Game
Not rated yet
Are you looking for a fun filled game that will cool you off? Wet water rodeo is the game for you!
There should be only 2 people in the pool. One of ...
Quick Quack Rubber Ducky Race
Not rated yet
There are as many teams as you would like on the same side of the pool (each team standing in one line). The player in the front has a rubber ducky. You ...
Find Your Mate Pool Party Game
Not rated yet
On little papers write names of animals (you want to write each animal twice on two different papers).
Each child gets a little piece of paper. While ...
Diving Ring Toss
Not rated yet
Have a parent throw diving rings into the pool. Have everyone try to bring back as many as they can in one breath. Whoever has the most rings wins. (Put ...
Fun Whirlpool Activity
Not rated yet
All the adults in the pool make a big circle holding hands and run as fast as they can in a circle. Big children can join in and the little ones can just ...
What Are They Saying Pool Game
Not rated yet
A group of people go under the water and try to talk to eachother and when they come up, you have to tell eachother what they said.
Ball Thrower Pool Game
Not rated yet
This game can be played with up to 10 players. One person is the ball thrower and has an inflatible ball. On the mark of 'Go' the person with the ball ...
Water Balloon Obstacle Course
Not rated yet
Divide into two teams. You have to move a large water-filled balloon (almost ready to burst) through a course with obstacles, like around pylons, under ...
Statues and the Sea-Monster Water Game
Not rated yet
This game takes place in a pool. One person is the Sea-Monster. She/He counts to twelve. Other players strike poses as statues. When the Sea-Monster looks ...
Sharks and Pirates Pool Party Game
Not rated yet
Everyone stands on one side of the pool (pirates) and one shark in the pool. On the shout "Man overboard!" the pirates all jump in and swim to safety ...
Money Finder Pool Party Game
Not rated yet
You get twenty cent coins and then you count how many people there are. Say there are 15 people you will need 15 twenty cent coins. On one of the coins ...
Pool Party Relay Race
Not rated yet
Divide the kids into two teams and get them to stand at one end of the pool.
When the whistle blows get one person from the team to jump into the pool,...
Walk the Plank Pirate Party Game
Not rated yet
Two children are chosen and the rest write down questions about themselves to ask them. Draw two rectangles next to the pool so no.4 reaches the edge of ...
Pegs Pool Party Game
Not rated yet
Number pegs from one to ten (ten pegs for each number). Break the kids into three groups. Evenly spread the pegs out in the pool then wait until they sink....
