10 Water Activities For Kids

Is there anything better as a kid on hot summer days than cooling off with water fun? Read on for ideas of water activities for kids to keep cool and have a blast this summer!

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Is there anything better as a kid on hot summer days than cooling off (while having fun) with water games and activities? Pools, sprinklers, and squirt guns, oh my! I have soooo many memories of running through the sprinkler as a kid.

Going to the local pool is great, but it’s not always feasible or convenient. Between the time, travel, and expense (plus the stress of keeping track of multiple small children!), we don’t get there very often. Fortunately, there are LOTS of ways to have fun with water right at home.

Read on for ideas of water activities your kids will love!

10 Water Activities for Kids

Here are 10 water activities for kids to keep cool and have a blast this summer!

Squirt gun fight – Squirt gun fights are a classic water activity for kids. We have tons of them at our house, and they’re always a blast. (By the way, squirt bottles are great for little ones who can’t quite work a squirt gun yet!)
Water tables – I love water tables because they don’t require a lot of water, they’re super versatile, and they provide hours of fun. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on one, so I made a DIY water table that was just as fun!
Sprinkler – What kid doesn’t love playing in the sprinkler? It’s a childhood rite of passage! And there are so many fun options available these days. No sprinkler? No problem! Here’s how to make one yourself with a pop bottle and a hose!
Water balloon games – Water balloons are super fun, and this post is FULL of fun and creative games to play with them.

If you don’t love the mess (or the waste) of water balloons, try some of these reusable water balloons or water balls.
Sponge bombs – Sponges are another great alternative to water balloons because they’re reusable and they don’t make a mess! You can have a sponge bomb fight (here are some pre-made sponge bombs), or play games like “Fill the Bucket”!
Water science experiments – I love the idea of combining fun AND learning, and these water science experiments are the perfect pairing!
Squeeze bottle writing/art – I’ve done this with each of my kids during the little years, and they’ve loved it! Fill a squeeze bottle with water, and let them “write” letters or “draw” pictures on the patio or driveway. I love it because there’s literally no clean-up. 😉

Someone recently gave me a similar idea of “painting” with water – give your kids a bucket of water and a large paintbrush and suggest they “paint” the driveway, sidewalks, deck, etc.
Slip and slide – Buy one or make one yourself! For a little different twist, you could make a DIY water blob.
Duck Duck Splash – This game looks so delightful and would be perfect for little kids.
Make a PVC pipe water shooter – This final water activity would be ideal for older kids, especially ones who love to build. If you have several older kids, make it a contest to see who can build the furthest shot!