A day at the pool can be fun on its own, but it’s even more fun when you can enjoy a few fun pool games with you family. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to just splash around or to compete with each other—there are games out there for all kinds of families. Below are five of the best pool games you can play with your family.
Marco Polo
One of the classic swimming pool games, that is still entertaining, is Marco Polo. Marco Polo doesn’t require much more than a few willing people and a tolerance for loud noises. If you’ve never played before, the game is simple—one person is “it” and must find the other players. Complicating things is the fact that this player must keep his or her eyes closed. He or she yells “Marco” and all other players must respond “Polo.” This is a simple game, but one that is very fun game, and a game that is known for its ability to devolve into absolute silliness in just a few moments.
The Invisible Bottle
The Invisible Bottle game is a fantastic way to put everything your children have learned at their swim school to work. All you need for this game is a clear bottle. Drop the bottle down to the bottom of the pool and challenge the kids to find it. The clear bottle should make it blend in with the bottom of the pool, which can make this game last far longer than you might imagine. This is a game for strong swimmers, so make sure your children are ready before you play.
Squirt Gun Races
Squirt Gun Races is another fun family pool game, but one that may take a little bit of work. You’ll need a pair of squirt guns, a pair of plastic cups, and two strings that you can tie across the pool. Poke a hole in the cups and place them on the string. Once you’re set, have the participants fire the squirt guns into the cups causing the cups to zip across the strings. It’s a great version of a classic carnival game, adapted for use in your family pool. Experiment with different squirt guns and cups to figure out what works the best for you.
Ring Toss
Ring Toss is a classic game for pool fun and it’s one that can be put together for just a few dollars. All you need is a pack of pool rings and a few pool noodles. Stick the pool noodles in the ground and use them as targets—it’s harder to get the rings on them than you might think! It’s a very simple game, but one that you can easily alter to get the whole family involved. For example, you can add different point values to different pool noodles or make players through the rings while blindfolded!
Volleyball
Volleyball doesn’t take much in a pool. If you don’t have a net, don’t worry—a piece of string stretched across the pool is enough. While this can be a competitive game, you can make it more fun with kids by having them ride on their parents’ shoulders. The game probably won’t be quite as competitive this way, but it will lead to lots of laughs. This is another game that will lead to a great deal of splashing around, so only play with those who are willing to get a face full of water.
There are many great pool games you can play with your family as long as you are willing to use your imagination. The suggested games are all easy to set up and play, but they will help you to have a better time in the water. Don’t worry about the rules or keeping score—at the end of the day, it is the fun that you have together that really matters.
