Top 10 Games to Make Your Kids’ Pool Party Unforgettable

The sun is shining, the kids are laughing and the pool is practically begging for a cannonball. That’s the magic of summer – and the perfect setup for a pool party! When your backyard is filled with eager swimmers, a few well-chosen swimming pool games can turn a fun afternoon into an epic event.

Ready, set, splash! A pool obstacle course swaps out cones and hurdles for swim-friendly challenges. One version might go like this: cannonball into the pool, swim across and touch a marker, float on your back for five seconds, glide through an inner tube, do an underwater handstand, slip on some swim fins and goggles, and race back to the other side. Feel free to customize the course to match swimmers’ ages and skills – just don’t forget the creativity!

Take those dive toys up a notch! Toss them all into the pool and time how fast each swimmer can scoop them up. Start the clock once the toys hit the bottom. As an extra challenge, keep track of how many times each diver comes up for air. Fastest and most efficient wins the glory!

Ready to race? Everyone hops on a pool raft, lines up at one end of the pool, and paddles like crazy to the other side. No falling off allowed! For a twist, set up a relay with teammates tagging in when they reach the end. May the fastest floater win!

Here’s a sneaky one! Take the label off a clear plastic water bottle, fill it with water and toss it into the pool. It practically vanishes! Have players turn their backs while you drop the bottle, then yell “go!” and let the frantic search begin. First to find it scores bragging rights!

Math meets mayhem in this poolside brain-teaser. Mark ping pong balls with numbers (say, 1 to 24) using a permanent marker. Toss them in and let swimmers collect as many as they can. Instead of counting how many they grabbed, they’ll add up the numbers for a total score. Top total wins! Play in teams for added action.

It’s a classic for a reason! One player is “it” and keeps their eyes shut (or wears blackout goggles) while calling out “Marco.” The other swimmers must respond “Polo” – no cheating by staying silent! Using only sound and splashes, the “it” player tries to tag someone. Get tagged, and you’re it next! For an extended version, Marco keeps tagging until only one elusive swimmer remains.

Cue the "Jaws" theme! One swimmer is the shark, hanging out mid-pool. When they give the signal, the minnows dive in and try to make it to the other side without getting tagged. Every minnow caught becomes a shark. Keep playing until there’s just one clever minnow left, or until everyone’s a shark!

Just like freeze tag, only wetter! One player is the tagger, chasing everyone else around the pool. If you’re tagged, freeze like an icicle with your hands in the air. You stay frozen until a fellow swimmer unfreezes you by tagging you or swimming between your legs. It’s chilly fun all around!

This one’s for your brave knights of the pool! Two players sit (or stand, if they dare!) on pool rafts, armed with foam noodles. The goal? Knock your opponent into the water while staying afloat yourself. For an extra challenge, divide into two teams and host your own floating tournament!

Start with one swimmer as the “octopus” whose job is to tag the others. Once tagged, players link arms and join the octopus chain. The longer the chain, the harder it is for the rest to dodge those wiggly arms. The last swimmer tagged is the winner – and maybe the next octopus!

Not every kid’s a water bug; some like to dip and dash. A great pool party has a little something for everyone, whether they’re splashing non-stop or lounging poolside. To keep all your guests entertained:

• Offer lots of water and snacks

• Set up dry games for non-swimmers

• Create a sunscreen station (because someone always forgets theirs)

• Provide comfy seating with a view of the pool

• Keep phones safe with a basket away from the splash zone

• Add pool lights if you’re partying past sunset

Pool parties are the ultimate way to enjoy your swimming pool. Add a few fun pool games and you’ve got a recipe for summer fun that kids (and their parents!) will remember long after their towels are dry.