Yes, it’s time again for outdoor water play! Especially on really hot days, water is essential for outdoor fun. But honestly, kids love playing with water no matter the temperature. We’re here to help with a few great water game ideas for outside. These water games are quick to set up and sure to be a hit.

For all outdoor water games, keep in mind:
Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your kids! It’s recommended to reapply every 90 minutes and to use at least SPF 50. In strong sun, a hat or cap is also a must. If it’s extremely hot, set up the games in the shade whenever possible. Water play increases the risk of sunburn.
Always supervise your kids, even if they have a swimming certificate! Accidents can happen in an instant, even in just a few centimetres of water.

1. Make Your Own Water Slide

With a tarp, soap, and water, you can easily create a backyard water slide. It’s even more fun if you have a small slope, but a flat lawn will work as well. It’s best to do this on grass, not on hard surfaces.

What you need:
 A tarp
A garden hose
Shampoo or liquid soap

How to set it up:
 Spread the tarp out over the grass. You can secure it with tent pegs. Spread soap and water evenly over the tarp. Be careful—while the goal is to make it slippery, it can be dangerous while setting it up. The most fun setup includes a sprinkler spraying over the tarp continuously… and let the games begin! Can you stay on your feet, or will you use it as a slip-and-slide?

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2. Water Balloon Piñata

Water balloons are always a hit. In the image above, you see a water balloon piñata. Kids take turns trying to hit and burst the balloons. For extra fun, you can put surprises inside the balloons, like candy or a mini popsicle. Or challenge the kids to hit the balloons while blindfolded.

What you need:
 Balloons (standard ones work best)
Strong string or ribbon
A long stick
Water
A place to hang the balloons

How to set it up:
 Fill as many water balloons as you can ahead of time and store them in a laundry basket. Tie strings around them and hang about six from a clothesline or similar spot. They’ll be heavy, so choose a sturdy place! Then it’s time for each child to take turns smashing them with a stick.

water balloons

3. High Jumping & Limbo Dancing

A high jump competition over a water stream is simple, exciting, and easy to set up! Place a hose on a stool and see who can jump over the water spray. For younger kids, lower the stream and have them crawl or scoot underneath it. Also fun: limbo dancing under the water stream! Great for kids and even fun for adults.

What you need:
 A garden hose

A hand with bright pink nail polish gripping a garden hose spraying water.

4. Make Colourful Water

Tired of the same old water? Add colour and make it fun again. These coloured water tablets are originally for the bath, but they work great in kiddie pools, as well. 

What you need:
 Inflatable kiddie pool
Colour tablets for water

How to set it up:
 Super easy! Just drop a tablet into the pool and the water changes colour. You can even mix the colours for a learning experience. These tablets are available online at Amazon.

Colorful watercolor paint strokes in red, green, yellow, and orange arranged in horizontal bands, with lollipops, small candies, and purple stars on the left side.

5. Trike Car Wash

Ride your trike or toy tractor through a splashy car wash—cool and super fun! You can even ride your bike through it.

What you need:
 Large sponges
A garden hose or sprinkler (or both)
A frame to hang everything from (like a climbing frame or swing set)

How to set it up:
 Soak the sponges and hang them from the frame. Ideally, water should spray from both sides, so use two hoses or a sprinkler if possible. Leave enough space for kids to ride through with their trike or bike. For extra fun, add strips of cloth hanging down, just like a real car wash.

A young shirtless child rides a tricycle through a colorful water splash pad, surrounded by spraying water and bright hanging toys.

6. Pouring Water into Containers

Short on time or not in the mood to participate? No problem. Little kids love pouring water from one container to another. Grab some storage tubs, watering cans, or measuring cups, and they’ll be busy for ages. It’s even educational—what holds more? What holds less? How does the same amount look in different containers? What floats and what sinks?

And older kids? They’ll love splashing water at each other. So water tubs are a win-win for all ages.

What you need:
 Containers (food tubs, empty ice cream containers, buckets—anything that holds water)
Water

Bonus: Water Bottle Soccer

Another fun and easy game: water bottle soccer. Try to kick a soccer ball to knock over your opponents’ bottles while protecting your own. If your bottle gets knocked over, you must retrieve the ball before setting your bottle back up. The player with the most water left at the end wins. Want to make it harder? Use multiple balls.

A barefoot person kicks a white ball outdoors on a brick path, sending a plastic bottle flying, with purple lavender bushes in the background.

Not into bottle soccer? Turn it into bowling instead! Line up the bottles and try to knock them down with a ball.

What you need:
Plastic bottles filled with water
One or more soccer balls

If you’re looking for inspiration to keep kids entertained, check out our articles on 101 games and activities to do with children at home, games for kids aged 8–10, activities for kids aged 6–7, and 25 educational games for kids aged 5.