It’s not exactly a challenge to get kids playing and having fun in around the pool in Arizona. Of course, parents know that pool time fun is also great exercise for the kiddos. If you’re looking for a few more ways to keep your kids outside for some healthy, splashy fun, these three swimming exercises and games will be sure to bring a smile to their faces and yours.
Air Mattress Relay
You’ll need a few things for this game:
- An air mattress
- A rope
- A stopwatch
Here’s how to play:
- Divide the participants into two teams. Have one team then split their players on either side of the pool.
- String the rope across the length of the pool either at water level or a bit above the pool.
- Place the air mattress in the pool, close to the edge, next to the rope and have the first player sit on it. When the game moderator shouts “GO!”, the player pulls him or herself across the pool to the other side using only the rope.
- When he or she reaches the other end, the next teammate jumps on and must pull him or herself to the other side.
- The game continues until the last teammate has gone, and then the next team does the same thing.
Time both teams as they go. The fastest team wins the race!
Watermelon Rush
All you need for this game are two watermelons. Participants can be separated into teams or play as individual players. The challenge: participants must push the watermelon from one end of the pool to the other, without allowing their feet to touch the bottom of the pool. If you don’t have any watermelons handy, that’s ok! Make up your own version of the game using rubber duckies, balloons, or any other floating object you can find around the house. Faster player wins.
Squirt Tag
Of the three swimming exercises here, this one is the most likely to leave your kids or grandkids flat-out exhausted. This game can be played inside or outside of the pool, but if playing outside the pool, be sure to watch the kids to make sure no one slips and falls.
To play, whoever is “it” is given a water gun filled with cold water. That person then has to try and tag another player with a cold squirt from the gun. Whoever gets squirted first then becomes “it” and has to try and tag another player.
