Toddler Pool Games

Pool games offer a relaxing and inexpensive activity.

Large indoor or outdoor pools provide exciting fun for toddlers when there are enough adults to provide close supervision and assistance with water games. Kiddie pools offer extra fun for toddlers because water levels can be adjusted and toddlers can move around and splash at will. Pool games for toddlers can provide engaging activities for hours of fun.

Larger Pool Games

"Marco Polo" requires enough adults to hold each child. One adult, with eyes closed, yells "Marco" while holding a child and moving in the water. The other adults, with eyes open, hold toddlers while moving quickly around the pool, shouting "Polo" and avoiding the "Marco" adult so they don't get caught. Although the adults provide the manpower in this game, toddlers love the fun of moving quickly through the deeper water.

"What Time Is It, Mr. Shark?" offers another game of fun maneuvering in the water with adult assistance. Adults each carry a toddler in the pool. One adult stands in the middle of the pool, facing away from the other adults and toddlers who are lined up against the pool wall. The adults and toddlers on the side of the pool yell "What time is it, Mr. Shark?" The adult and toddler standing alone will yell out a time. The others take the same number of steps toward the adult in the middle of the pool as the time suggests, such as five steps for five o'clock. Eventually the adult and toddler in the middle of the pool will respond "dinner time" and turn to chase the others. The adult and toddler caught become the next Mr. Shark.

Kiddie Pool Games

Although a kiddie pool is small, a number of fun activities can be set up for toddlers. Have toddlers push rubber ducks across the kiddie pool with their noses as a race. A simple pick up objects game demonstrates teamwork. Have two toddlers sit in the pool with two other toddlers outside of the pool. Have a variety of objects on the pool floor, such as pennies, small toys or rocks. Set an egg timer to see how many objects the toddlers in the pool can pick up with their feet and pass on to their partner outside of the pool in the allotted time.

Carnival Pool Games

Use your imagination to create carnival-like games in your toddler's kiddie pool. Place floating rings in the water and have your child try to throw ping pong balls into the rings to win treats or small prizes. Set up empty plastic pop bottles in an empty kiddie pool. Give toddlers water guns to see who can knock over the pop bottles.

Poolside Fun

Playing beside the pool in swim suits can be just as fun as being in the pool. Draw a large lion or clown face on an empty cardboard box. Cut open a large mouth on your artwork. Have the children take turns throwing water balloons into the mouth of your creation. Let the toddlers have fun with the balloons when they are done with the toss game.

References

• Toddler Toddler: Toddler Group Activities
• Kids Birthday Party Guide: Pool Birthday Party Ideas
• Coolest Kid Birthday Parties: Coolest Carnival Game Ideas for a Circus and Carnival Birthday
• Wonder Time: Three Great Games for a Wading Pool
• Amazing Moms: Pool Party Ideas for Kids - Summer Birthday Party Ideas

Resources

• Family Education: Pool Safety for Kids