Twelve Creative Methods to Outsmart Summer's Sizzling Heat
As the summer sun beats down, children (and adults!) are on the lookout for fun and refreshing ways to cool off. Here are some creative and budget-friendly outdoor water games that can be easily set up in your backyard with inexpensive or household items.
1. **Water Tag**
This classic twist on the game of tag involves water guns, spray bottles, or even water balloons. One person is "it" and tries to spray others to free themselves. Once a player is sprayed, they become "it." The game can also be played like hide-and-seek with spraying to tag players out.
2. **Water Balloon Games**
Water balloons can be adapted for many activities: water balloon toss, dodgeball, relay races, or a water balloon fight. You can even hang them as part of a backyard obstacle course. For an eco-friendlier option, try reusable water bombs.
3. **Sponge Relay ("Sponge Run")**
Teams race to soak a large sponge in a bucket of water, carry it to another bucket, and squeeze out the water to fill it. The first team to reach a fill line wins. This game combines running and water play and uses simple supplies like sponges and buckets.
4. **Water Bottle Toss**
Toss water-filled bottles into targets or buckets. This game requires minimal setup and is great for hand-eye coordination and friendly competition.
5. **DIY Water Wall**
Create a water wall from old containers, jugs, hoses, and a pegboard. Kids can pour and direct water flow, learning about volume and fluid dynamics while having fun. It’s a reusable play station that uses outdoor faucet water and can minimize mess with thoughtful placement.
6. **Sponge Tag and Sponge Toss**
Use wet sponges instead of water balloons to tag or toss at targets, which is reusable and less wasteful. You can incorporate chalk-drawn bullseyes to practice accuracy and brighten up the game area.
All these games require common, inexpensive items like buckets, sponges, spray bottles, and balloons, making them budget-friendly and easy to set up without a pool. They keep kids active, cool, and entertained during hot summer days, and many are suitable for a wide range of ages.
For more ideas and instructions on creating your own water games, check out resources like Hello Creative Family, hello, Wonderful | Creative Living With Kids, and Clumsy Crafter. Enjoy a splashing good time this summer!
- Incorporate water games into your home-and-garden as a fun and refreshing addition to your outdoor-living lifestyle this summer.
- By creating a DIY water wall or engaging in water bottle toss, you can transform your backyard into a complementary extension of your lifestyle that fuses home-and-garden with a splash of water-based fun.
