Looking for exciting and refreshing ways to keep kids entertained at home? These water games go beyond the classic water balloon toss and slip n’ slide. Keeping kids’ attention requires creativity, and so we worked on adding twists to classic water activities, while coming up with unique and fast-paced new ideas.
At Home Water Games for Kids
These games are not just perfect for playing at home in the backyard. There are also great options for summer parties, youth groups, VBS, or camp activities. Each game is simple to set up and can be adjusted for different age groups.
1. Water Balloon Camel Race
A goofy, giggle-filled game of coordination and cooperation—two kids, one hump, and one wet, wobbly mission! Just like a camel carries its cargo on its back, in this game two players carry a “water hump” (balloon) between their backs as they awkwardly trek across the yard. The visual is silly and spot-on: slow, wobbly movement, funny posture, and high risk of a splashy failure—just like an overloaded desert trek gone wrong!
How to Play:
Pair up players and have them stand back-to-back. Place a water balloon between their backs (no hands!) and have them walk a set distance to a designated bucket or finish line. If the balloon drops or bursts, they start over!
Twist to Make It Harder:
- Add cones or obstacles to the walking path.
- Time each pair and make it a race.
- Try crab-walking instead of standing upright!
If filling a bunch of water balloons seems like a tedious task, don’t worry – you can use the rapid-fill water balloons! The only downside to these (like all water balloons) is that when they break, you get little plastic pieces all over your lawn. If this is an issue for you, consider using reusable water balloons.
Reusable Water Balloon Demo Video:
2. Water Cannon Attack!
Build your battleship. Arm your crew. Let the water war begin!
How to Play:
Design a simple or elaborate battleship. Feel free to get as crazy as you want. The more it resembles a real ship, the more likely the kids will be genuinely interested. You can take inspiration from some famous ships, both fictional and real, like the Black Pearl or the USS Missouri.
Players will need to stay on the ship and launch water balloons at the enemy! Using their hands or one of these really awesome water balloon slingshots.
For the enemy, you can set up various targets to destroy. I would recommend making your own targets out of cardboard or anything you have around the house to save money. However, if you are short on creativity and have a short amount of time, you can so many inflatable characters online. There are pirate ships, T-Rex, monkeys, and even aliens.
You can also set up targets using hula hoops, buckets, cardboard cutouts with holes, or chalk-drawn circles. Assign each target a point value. Players take turns tossing water balloons, trying to hit or land them in the targets.
This allows players to compete against one another rather than just enjoying hitting the targets together.
Make It Harder:
- Increase the distance from the throwing line.
- Use smaller openings for higher point values.
- Blindfold tossers with help from a partner’s directions!
3. Splash Countdown Challenge
This thrilling, fast-paced game adds a hilarious twist to obstacle course fun. One unlucky teammate sits beneath a suspended water balloon, nervously watching the countdown timer tick away.
How to Play:
One player sits on a stool under a suspended water balloon (or bucket). Teammates must complete a series of challenges or one big challenge within the set time. If they don’t finish in time, the balloon gets popped over the seated teammate’s head!
Challenge ideas:
- Spin a hula hoop around your waist 5 full rotations—no drops allowed!
- Army crawl under a row of pool noodles or chairs without knocking anything over.
- Complete 10 successful jumps with a jump rope—trickier when you’re in a rush!
- Toss a frisbee and land it inside a hula hoop or marked target zone.
- Run to a station, put on three silly hats (or swim goggles, lei, etc.) in a specific order, then return.
- Find and assemble a 4-piece puzzle scattered around a small area (foam pieces, letters, shapes, etc.).
- Successfully complete one cup flip (flip a solo cup upright from the edge of a table or platform).
- Balance a small ball (or sponge) on a spoon and walk 10 feet without dropping it.
- Solve a riddle or answer a trivia question correctly before moving on.
- Toss 3 rolled-up socks (or bean bags) into a laundry basket from a few feet away.
Variation: For a fun alternative, flip the script. Instead of saving their teammate, players race to complete the challenge to soak someone. Good for teachers, parents, siblings, etc.
4. Bucket Relay Dash
A fast-paced, splash-heavy game where teamwork meets total mayhem! In this wild race, teams must transport water from a shared source to their own bucket using only tiny tools like sponges or small cups. This should be easy enough, right? Not so fast.
Every few seconds, random twists are thrown into the mix—players may have to hop on one foot, carry water without using their hands, or watch in horror as a teammate spills part of their hard-earned progress. It’s unpredictable, hysterical, and the perfect blend of competition and chaos.
How to Play:
Split players into teams of 2–5. Each team gets a small water-carrying tool (like a sponge or plastic cup), a water source (such as a kiddie pool or cooler), and an empty team bucket placed 20–30 feet away.
On “GO!”, players take turns running to fill their bucket using only their assigned tool. The team with the most water in their bucket when time runs out wins!
Random Twists: You will need either a wheel to spin (a Twister wheel works) or a deck of cards you create. Either will have random challenges or interruptions to the game written on them. At regular intervals, spin the wheel or draw a card. All players must follow it until the next one appears.
Twist Ideas:
- Hop on one foot
- Use only your mouth to carry the tool
- Crab walk
- Tiptoe while holding an imaginary hat
- Belly crawl to the water source
Related Games You Will Love: Board Games for Restless 9-Year-Olds
5. Water Draft Challenge
A hilarious and unpredictable water game for kids who love surprises, strategy, and splashy silliness! This game combines balance, decision-making, and mystery water challenges into one awesome activity. Kids compete to earn the best tools… without knowing how they’ll have to use them!
How to Play:
Round 1: The first round is simply a way to decide who gets to go first. All players stand on one foot at the same time. No hopping, no switching feet, no falling! Whoever lasts the longest gets the first pick in the next round.
Tip for Leaders: For little kids, this will go quickly and be a challenge, but for older kids, you can make it harder by calling out silly things while they balance: “Flap your arms like a bird!” or “Pretend to sneeze!” You can also spray everyone with water or add any other water element you like. This will ensure you don’t have a 20-minute-long balance contest.
Round 2: Mystery Tool Draft. Players take turns choosing from a wild lineup of water tools.
But here’s the twist: they have no idea what challenge they’ll be using it for!
Top balancers pick first, and so on down the line.
Tool Options:
- Large bucket
- Small plastic cup
- Teapot
- Toy dump truck
- Sponge
- Pool noodle (hollow)
- Squirt gun
- Spray bottle
- Colander
- Slotted spoon
- Solo cup
- Eyedropper or plastic syringe
- Water balloon
- Measuring cup
Round 3: Let the contests begin. Now that the kids are armed, they compete one by one in a series of challenges where some tools will be better suited and some will be downright useless.
Challenge Ideas:
- 🎯 Target Splash – Goal: Use your tool to hit a bullseye (like a paper plate, chalk circle, or bin) 10 feet away. Winner: Most accurate hits in 3 attempts.
- 🚚 Bucket Transfer Race – Goal: Move water from one bucket to another across the yard as fast as possible using your tool only. Winner: First to empty their “source” bucket.
- 🧩 Precision Pour – Goal: Fill a container with exactly 5 ounces of water. Winner: Closest to the target volume—no overflowing!
- 🏰 Fill the Towers – Goal: Fill three small containers placed at different heights and distances. Winner: First to fill all three without knocking them over.
- 💣 Balloon Blast Build – Goal: Fill a balloon with water using your tool, tie it off, and toss it into a hoop or bucket. Winner: First to land 2 successful balloon tosses.
- 🧽 Squeeze Race – Goal: Soak and squeeze water into a measuring container. Winner: Most water collected in 1 minute.
6. Sponge Tag Conundrum
Classic tag meets slippery sabotage in this wet and wild backyard twist! Players dash, dodge, and defend with soaked sponges as their only shield and weapon. It’s fast, it’s splashy, and no one stays dry for long.
How to Play:
One player starts as “It” and holds a soaking wet sponge. Everyone else runs! The goal? Tag another player by throwing or smacking them with the sponge. Once a player is tagged, they become the new “It” and must soak the sponge before chasing the others.
Optional Boundary Rule: Mark out a safe play zone with cones or rope. Stepping outside earns a penalty (like 5 jumping jacks or starting the next round with eyes closed for 3 seconds).
Game Ends: After a set time or number of rounds, the player with the fewest “It” turns is declared the Splash Tag Champion.
Twist to Make It Harder:
- Add multiple sponges and allow more than one “It.”
- Players must carry a small water balloon while running—if it breaks, they freeze for 10 seconds.
- Include safe zones where players can “refill” with a water cup poured over their head before rejoining.
If you like Sponge Tag, then check out Water Balloon Dodgeball.
7. Wet Musical Chairs
Musical chairs meets water roulette in this suspense-filled backyard game! It’s a sit-down showdown with a surprise splash waiting for one unlucky player—only the leader knows who’s getting soaked.
How to Play:
Set up a circle of chairs, one fewer than the number of players. Choose one player or adult to hold a bucket of water.
Kids walk around the circle while music plays. When the music stops, everyone scrambles to find a seat. The unfortunate soul left standing gets an icy splash delivered to their face courtesy of our bucket holder.
Remove one chair each round and repeat.
Compete to Beat the Heat
Backyard water games are the ultimate way to beat the heat, burn energy, and spark nonstop laughter. With just a few simple supplies and a splash of creativity, your yard can become the coolest spot in town. So grab the hose, round up the kids, and let the summer fun soak in!
