The 25 Best Pool Games for Kids to Maximize Summer Fun (And Minimize Whining)

Create a custom obstacle course for swimmers of any skill level with these swimming rings, which boast adjustable air chambers that allow them to stay in place at varying depths. Kids will love the challenge of swimming through, under, over and around these rings—and if you introduce a little competition with two side-by-side courses, there’s even more underwater fun to be had.

3. Air Ball

You know how your kids can spend hours playing with a sad helium balloon a week after the birthday party? Well, this is the pool party version of that frantic form of entertainment—and no matter what, the beach ball cannot hit the water. The rules are simple (just keep the ball up in the air) and kids of all ages can dive and splash like professional athletes while you sit back and listen to the shrieks of joy (i.e., summer memories in the making).

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4. What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?

This pool party staple boasts an element of surprise that provides big thrills to little people. One child, stationed in the middle of the pool, plays the role of sneaky Mr. Fox while the innocents in the shallow end ask what time it is. Whatever the Fox claims to be the hour on the clock is the number of paces the other players must take towards him. When, on a whim, Mr. Fox declares lunchtime then the intensity breaks...into a game of tag.

5. Floatie Race

Those pool toys look ideal for lounging and bobbing around, right? But kids will have none of that laziness at their pool party. Instead, score a few of these sets-of-two inflatable sharks and have the young guests put those floaties to use for fast-paced fun. Here’s how it works: Kids pick a pool toy and launch themselves from the deck and into the water—the first one to steer their vessel to the opposite side wins the race. But really, you’ll be the one winning because you’ll be sitting poolside...having a conversation in (relative) peace.

Your kids love shooting some hoops on the court but it’s not exactly their favorite thing to do on a hot summer’s day. Enter: Pool basketball. This fun game is a great way for children—and adults—to cool off in the heat while providing hours of entertainment. With a sturdy splash hoop, two water balls and a hand pump, this one’s guaranteed to be a slam dunk for the whole fam (sorry, we had to).

8. Squirt Gun Stand-off

The rules of engagement are flexible in this water war (except for the one about not spraying poolside loungers) but if you hand squirt-guns or water blasters to a bunch of kids, the fun is guaranteed. One highly recommended squirt-gun game is spray tag, where kids must dive under the water to stay out of their friend’s line of fire. But kids must move fast, because any player that gets sprayed must surrender their weapon until the next round. The last one standing (or swimming) is the winner.

Entertaining a group of kids is no easy task. But with a little bit of planning—and this easy-to-set-up pool activity—you’ll be able to kick back and relax while the children make a splash seeing who can score the most points. This one works just like regular old volleyball, except the swimming pool setting makes the game much more challenging—and way more fun. This top-rated set comes with an inflatable volleyball and a floating net that stays in place with anchor weights, plus a repair kit.

10. Popsicle Freeze Tag

Any kind of tag provides endless entertainment for little people, but the novelty (and challenge) of playing in water only adds to the fun. This form of freeze tag has been adapted for aquatic play and the theme of the game is summer—so if a kid gets tagged, he’s got to throw his hands in the air to freeze in the shape of a popsicle. Arms needn’t get too tired, though, since players can rejoin the game as soon as a teammate swims between their legs to bring ‘em back to life.

11. Chicken Fight

Presenting the only time you won’t be mad when your child resorts to pushing and shoving. If you ever find yourself wishing those sibling clashes would feel more playful than stressful, the swimming pool is the solution. Grab another grown-up and give both big kids a shoulder-height boost for a round of chicken fighting. It’s physical fun with a happy ending.

This water version of the fast-paced sport, featuring padded foam sticks and a floating ball, is especially well-suited for kids. The game can be played with a group for a true team experience, or with only two players for some sibling fun—either way, it will provide hours of high-energy entertainment for kids of all ages.

13. Squigz Treasure Hunt

If you have children, there’s a good chance you’ve searched for buried treasure before (your car keys, perhaps?). But once your beloved is bigger, the game gets more fun. Swim school graduates can get their rocks off by diving for sunken treasure in the depths of a swimming pool, and this mission is just as entertaining solo as it is with a team effort involved. Try tossing a couple of these Squigz to the bottom of the ocean and see how fast kids can collect all the toys in the same color.

15. Ping Pong Scramble

There’s nothing little kids love more than scrambling and competing to get all the stuff. Fortunately, this take on the common theme is less Lord of the Flies and more pool party fun. Small savages will delight in this aquatic activity—and all you have to do is toss a bunch of ping pong balls into a pool and challenge the children to collect them all as quickly as possible. Bonus: The kids do the cleanup for you.

17. Tub Toy Push

These ocean creatures are good for more than just bath time. Case in point: Toss a few of these favorite tub toys into the swimming pool to get the fun started with a friendly race. The first one to push their toy to the opposite end of the pool wins—and that’s no small feat, since this is a no-hands game. Chests, noggins, noses, and even feet will have to do the work as kids compete to take their toy across the finish line. Bonus: The light-up feature on these guys makes this a fun game for nighttime swims as well.

18. Colors

This one is a bit like sharks and minnows but with far more intrigue. To play the game of Colors, the one child who is ‘it’ stands in the middle of the pool with her back turned towards the row of players on the other end, each of whom have secretly chosen a color. ‘It’ then begins calling out common colors and when a player’s color is called, he must slip into the water and try to silently swim past without alerting the child who’s ‘it.’ This game of stealth requires a poker face and bonafide swimming skills.

19. Underwater limbo

All you need is a noodle to pull off this swimming pool adaptation of the classic party game—that and the ability to hold your breath underwater, of course. Blast some festive tunes and find a good seat so you can see how low those kids can go.

20. Whack-a-wet-mole

Younger kids will love this pool game, and a pool noodle is the only prop needed for play. One child gets the noodle while the others line up in a row and start popping in and out of the water to avoid getting whacked. Fortunately, the bop on the head is soft so the fun is tear-free.

No parent relishes the thought of having to dive for tiny scraps of latex because they let the kids have a water balloon fight in the pool. That’s why we’re pleased to report that someone came up with an unbreakable water balloon. These super absorptive water balls (there are 50 in each set) provide just as much splash as water balloons but without the clean up. Plus, they’re plenty soft so getting hit with one is pure fun. Let the games begin!

This floating version of the classic lawn game is an ideal, low-key activity to have on hand for when the kids start feeling worn out from some of the more boisterous games on the list, but aren’t quite ready to towel off and call it a day. Plus, this one is particularly easy to set up since only the base needs to be inflated, but the rings do not.

24. Boogie Board Balancing Contest

Kids can surf without the waves, or at least start honing their balancing skills before they boogie to the beach. Order a couple of boogie boards online (we like this pick for ages 7 and up) and let the fun begin. Happily, the swimming pool is a forgiving place for finding one’s center of gravity and this training exercise will have everyone in stitches.