Pool Party Games

by Laura
(Harrington Park, NJ)

What pool party games do you recommend?

Answer:

Hi Laura,

There are many swimming pool games that you can play at your party. The ones you choose will depend on the age group and the number of participants.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure to explain the water safety rules to the kids (no diving in shallow water, etc.) Have adult supervision at all times. Identify non-swimmers in the group, and put life jackets on them.

Here are a few of my favorite pool activities.

*Marco Polo: Here is a great classic game that is a lot of fun.

One person is "It" and closes her eyes. She yells "Marco" and the rest of the group responds with "Polo." The player who is "It" tries tagging others while receiving auditory clues (by hearing "Polo"). When she tags someone, that person becomes "It."

All the players must say "Polo", otherwise they risk the penalty of becoming "It." If the player with the closed eyes thinks that someone has climbed out of the pool, she may yell "Fish out of the water", and the person who isn't in the water becomes "It."

*Balloon Toss: Here is a great activity for preteens and younger kids to play on deck.

Fill balloons with cold tap water (without blowing air into them). Split the kids into pairs, and get them to toss balloons back and forth. If they don't catch the balloons, they will burst on the ground and splash them all over.

To increase the difficulty: get them to take one step back after each toss, or put shaving cream on their hands.

*Fake Water Polo: Set up a goal out of kick boards or deck chairs on opposite sides of the pool.

Split the group in 2 teams and have them play a game of water polo. The team that hits/knocks down the opponent's goal gets a point.

*Whirlpool: This pool party game is best for younger group to play in a shallow end.

Have the children form a circle. Get everyone to run as fast as they can in one direction around the circle holding hands.

When the "whirling" effect starts to appear, the players can simply fall on their backs or sides and let the current whirl them around.

*Diving Contest: If you have a diving board at your pool, then invite everyone to demonstrate their diving ability.

They can show their dives, somersaults and other cool moves. You can even have a competition with one person showing others his or her dive, and everyone else having to repeat it.

For this activity, be sure that water is deep enough for diving (ideally 12 feet deep), and use life jackets on younger kids.

*What Time is it Mr. Shark?: This game is great for younger kids, and usually is played in the shallow water.

Pick one player to be the Shark. He stands near the wall and turns away from other players. Everyone else is a good distance away.

Players ask "What time is Mr. Shark?", and the Shark responds with 3 (or any other number) o'clock. Children count out loud the identical number of steps as they move towards the Shark. The game continues in the same fashion with players getting closer and closer to the Shark.

At a certain time (when the players are close) the Shark says "It's dinner time!" At this moment he turns around and tries to catch others as they run away "home." (Choose an area for Home before the game.) Whoever he catches first is the next Mr. Shark.

*Noodle Races: If you host your party at a public pool, there will be "swimming noodles" (made out of foam) that are used for water aerobics. They are easily bendable and could be used for games.

Have the players sit on them (as they would on a horse), and have them race from one side to another in the deep water. They must use their hands in sculling/breaststroke motion to move.

*Photo/Video Session: Take a water resistant camera with you to the party. Have the kids make silly faces and gestures underwater, as you take their pictures.

This could be a great memento from the party for a group of friends to keep!