Fun Pool and Water Activities for Children

The living may be easy in the summertime, but the weather often isn't. During this steamiest of seasons, when the playground seats are hot and the sidewalks are toe-scorching, it's simple to understand why children run to the nearest air-conditioned place in front of the television set or video games. But inside the house is no way to spend a summer vacation especially when WATER is an excellent source for cooling-off and is so easy and accessible. So, whether you have a swimming pool, wading pool, or just the garden hose; your kids can spend hours of fun and "beat the heat" this summer.

Get wet but stay safe. There have been too many unnecessary accidents and drowning of children in all age groups. Follow these safety rules whenever children are near water:

-Do not consider young children "drown proof" because they have had swimming lessons. They should always be watched carefully while swimming.

-Do not use floatation devices as a substitute for supervision.

-Have a telephone at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near the pool.

-During social gatherings, appoint a "designated watcher" to protect young children from pool accidents. Adults can take turns being the "watcher."

SPLISH-SPLASH BABY'S KICKING LIKE A FISH (Baby and Toddler)

Why exclude Baby from having fun in the water? Just set up his own special wading pool and let your youngster enjoy this cool refreshing experience. For the younger baby, it's necessary to place him in a reclining baby seat that is waterproof and set this in a pool of 4-5 inches of water. Let him kick and splash with delight. A toddler can sit up on his own and is more interested in the pool toys. He can discover firsthand how objects behave in water. Besides the usual bath toys, give him a sponge (to absorb water), a sieve (let the water rain through) and draw happy faces on table tennis balls-they float! For a special treat, surround your baby in bubbles by adding baby bubble bath (no tears formula) to the water. Protect your child's delicate skin by shading his pool area with a beach umbrella and the use of sunscreen. Wide brimmed hats and clothing help from over exposure to the hot summer sun.

As you and your baby play in the pool, sing and dramatize this fun water song together. (Tune: "The Eeency Weency Spider)

I LIKE TO SPLASH THE WATER IN MY SWIMMING POOL.

I SPLASH IT ON MY FACE AND WET MY PRETTY HAIR.

WATER THROUGH MY FINGERS AND WATER ON MY TOES.

I LIKE TO SPLASH THE WATER EVEN ON MY NOSE!

THE BEST PART OF BODY PAINTING IS WASHING IT OFF (Preschool)

Have your children put on their oldest swimsuits, then go out to the yard and get creative. Grab hold of non-toxic tempera paints, fingerpaint, or foaming bath paints and create colorful pictures on each other. Kids can take turns drawing shapes on each other's back and then guess what was drawn. Draw a bull's eye on a tummy and try to hit the target (and wash it off) with a water squirt bottle. Use sponges or leaves dipped in paint to make prints on shoulders and legs. After your kid's have covered as much skin as possible, get out the hose and wash cloths and scrub their "canvas" clean-but not before taking memorable photos of each human masterpiece.

WHAT'S COOL IN THE POOL (School Age)

Your kids can beat the heat and quench the "sizzle" of summer with water. These wet and wild games will make your pool party a splash hit!

Dry Run Derby:

Have the kids line up at the shallow end of the pool, then hand each one a dry sheet of newspaper (or paper towel). On cue, everyone enters the water and starts swimming while holding their papers above the water. The goal is to deliver the driest paper to the opposite end of the pool.

Balloon Push:

The object of this contest is to race to the far end of the pool while pushing a balloon with your nose. For each swimmer, fill a balloon with about ¼ cup of water, then blow it up the rest of the way and knot it. The water will weigh down the balloon enough so that it will float atop the water without blowing away.

Ball Away:

String a rope across the center of the pool. Toss lots of soft, floating balls (ping-pong, inflatable beach balls, playground balls, etc.) into the pool so that there is an equal amount on each side of the "net." Now assemble teams on opposite sides of the net. When the whistle blows, each team tries to throw all of their balls on the other side of the rope. When the whistle blows a second time, everyone immediately stops, and the team with the fewest balls on their side wins.

Balloon Blast:

Supply each child with a spray bottle filled with water and an inflated balloon. The object of play is to keep your balloon in the air the longest by squirting it repeatedly with water.

Water Ball:

Players use homemade plastic scoops (just cut the bottom off an empty milk or water jug and cover the edge with tape) to catch and throw a water balloon back and forth until it bursts.

Make An Ice Boat:

The key to winning an ice boat race is to outlast the competition. On a steamy day, launch these boats in a wading pool and see whose melts last. To make an ice boat, you'll need a pint size juice carton, food coloring, duct tape, a 12" wooden dowel, colored cellophane and a stapler.

Fill the carton with one and one-half cups of water and several drops of food coloring. Seal the top with duct tape and shake gently. Lay the sealed carton on its side and use a craft knife (parents only) to cut an X through the center of the side facing up. Push the dowel through the opening and set the carton in the freezer overnight.

Next cut out a cellophane sail (an oblong triangle) and staple it around the dowel. Finally cut the carton away from the frozen boat and slip the sail onto the mast. You're now ready for some boating fun!