Are you looking for some fun activities to do with your kids on a hot summer day? Well, look no further than water balloon games! These water balloon games for kids are a great way to keep your kids entertained, while also staying cool and refreshed. So, grab some water balloons, gather your kids, and get ready to have some fun in the sun! We have 19 fun water balloon games that the kids will love playing!
Water Balloon Games for Kids
If you are looking for fun water balloon games for the kids to play you are in luck. This list of water balloons will keep the kids having fun while cooling off on hot summer days. Make sure you have plenty of water balloons on hand, because once the kids start playing they are not going to want to stop!
I stock up on water balloons and make sure there are always a lot of water balloons for the kids to fill up and have fun with. Even the teenagers in my house and their friends love filling up water balloons and having fun with them.
The great thing about water balloon games is that they are great for kids of all ages. If you have older children and younger children they can play these games and have lots of summer fun together. When you are having a party, a family reunion or just a get-together with friends these awesome water balloon games are sure to keep everyone happy and having a ton of fun.
If we are having a party or know a bunch of kids will be over to hang out I like to fill a bucket with lots of water balloons so when they want to play their favorite water balloon games the water balloons are ready for them. Many times they bring me the empty bucket and ask me for a refill of the bucket of water balloons so they can keep on having fun.
Benefits of Water Balloon Games for Kids
Water balloon games provide a range of benefits for kids, both physical and emotional. Here are some of the benefits:
- Physical activity. Water balloon games require kids to move their bodies, helping them to stay active and improve their coordination and balance.
- Social interaction. Water balloon games are a fun way for kids to interact and build relationships with their peers, promoting social skills and teamwork.
- Creativity. Many water balloon games involve creativity and imagination, such as creating new games or coming up with unique ways to use water balloons.
- Stress relief. Water balloon games can be a great stress-reliever for kids, providing a fun and enjoyable way to release pent-up energy and emotions.
- Cooling off. Water balloon games are perfect for hot summer days when kids need a way to cool off and stay hydrated.
- Hand-eye coordination. Many of the water balloon game ideas involve toss and catching which is great for working on hand-eye coordination.
What are the best Water Balloons to use?
There are a few things that will make for the best water balloons. First, you do not want to use regular balloons. They will not fill up well and they will not hold the water in them like is needed to play the fun games. Personally in our house, we love Bunch O Balloons. If you are looking for cheap water balloons that come in large packs, grab the 500 count pack of Elitoky water balloons.Â
​Tips for picking the best water balloons
- Small Sized balloons. Smaller water balloons are better suited for younger children, while larger water balloons are better for older kids and adults. The size also affects the level of splash and the amount of water in the balloon, so choose the size based on your intended use.
- Good Quality. Look for water balloons that are made from high-quality materials that are less likely to break or leak. Avoid buying cheap or flimsy balloons, as they are more likely to break during filling or while playing the game.
- Quantity. Consider how many water balloons you need and purchase them accordingly. Buying in bulk is usually more cost-effective, especially if you plan on playing multiple games or have a large group of players. If you are going to have a lot of filled water balloons then you might want to consider using a kiddie pool to put them in.
- Ease of filling. Choose water balloons that are easy to fill up with water, either by using a water hose or filling them up from a faucet. Some water balloons come with a special attachment that makes filling them up easier and faster. I personally like the water balloons that come in bunches, you just put the hose on the one end of the bunch and it fills a ton of water balloons easily and quickly.
Water Balloon Toss Game
This classic game is always a hit with kids of all ages. To play, simply divide your kids into pairs and give each pair a water balloon. Have them stand a few feet apart and toss the balloon back and forth to each other. With each successful toss, they take a step back, making the game more challenging. The last pair standing with an intact water balloon wins!
Water Balloon Piñata
This game is a fun twist on the traditional piñata game. Fill up a bunch of water balloons and hang them from a tree branch or a clothesline. Blindfold your child and give them a bat or stick to hit the water balloons with. They’ll have a blast trying to break the balloons and get soaked with water.
Water Balloon Relay Race
For this game, divide your kids into teams and have them stand in a line. Give the first person in each line a water balloon, and when you say go, they have to hold the balloon between their chin and neck and pass it to the next person in line without using their hands. The first team to successfully pass the water balloon to the end of their line wins!
Water Balloon Dodge ball
This game is a fun and wet take on the classic game of dodgeball. Divide your kids into two teams and give each team an equal number of water balloons. Set up a line in the middle of your playing area, and have each team stand on opposite sides of the line. When you say go, the teams will throw water balloons at each other, trying to hit the opposing team member closest to them and hit as many as possible. The team with the most players left standing at the end of the game wins!
Water Balloon Freeze Tag
This game is a fun twist on the classic game of freeze tag. Choose one child to be “it” and give them a water balloon. When they tag another child, they have to freeze in place until another player comes to unfreeze them by breaking the water balloon over their head. The game continues until all players are frozen, or until a designated time limit has been reached.
Water Balloon Baseball
This game is perfect for kids who love sports and want to stay cool. Set up a “field” in your backyard using bases or markers. One child is the pitcher and another is the batter. The pitcher throws a water balloon to the batter, who tries to hit it with a bat or stick. If they hit the balloon, they run around the bases while the other team tries to retrieve the balloon and tag them with it. If they get tagged, they are out!
Water Balloon Spoon Race
For this game, each child gets a spoon and a water balloon. Have them balance the water balloon on the spoon and race to the finish line without dropping it. If the balloon falls off, they have to go back to the starting line and start over. The first child to cross the finish line with their water balloon still intact wins!
Water Balloon Limbo
This game puts a fun twist on the classic limbo game. Fill up a bunch of water balloons and tie them to a string or rope. Have two adults hold the rope at each end and lower it as low as possible. The kids take turns going under the water balloon rope, but they have to keep their bodies dry. If they touch the rope or get wet, they are out. The last player standing wins!
Water Balloon Treasure Hunt
This game is perfect for kids who love a good scavenger hunt. Fill up a bunch of water balloons and hide them around your backyard or local park. Give each child a basket or bag and set a timer for 10-15 minutes. The kids then search for the hidden water balloons and collect as many as they can within the time limit. The child with the most water balloons at the end of the game wins!
Water Balloon Tag
Water balloon tag is a fun and exciting game that is perfect for a hot summer day. To play, you will need a bunch of water balloons and a group of players.
To start the game, choose one player to be “it.” The player who is “it” has a water balloon and must tag the other players with it by throwing the water balloon at them. If a player is hit by the water balloon, they are out of the game. However, if a player catches the water balloon before it hits them, they can throw it back at the player who is “it,” making them the new target. If the player who is “it” is hit by their own water balloon, they are out of the game, and a new player becomes “it.” The game continues until there is only one player left, who is declared the winner.
Water Balloon Tower
For this game, kids work together to build a tower using water balloons and plastic cups. Divide the kids into teams and give them a set amount of time to build the tallest tower they can using only the supplies provided. The team with the tallest tower at the end of the game wins!
Water Balloon Freeze Dance
Fill up a bunch of water balloons and turn on some music. When the music starts, everyone dances around while tossing the balloons in the air. When the music stops, everyone freezes in place. The last player to still have their balloon intact wins!
Water Balloon Hopscotch
Water balloon hopscotch is a fun twist on the classic hopscotch game that is perfect for a hot summer day. To play, you will need a hopscotch grid drawn on the ground, either with sidewalk chalk or tape, and a bunch of water balloons.
To set up the game, fill each water balloon with water and place them in the squares of the hopscotch grid. The number of water balloons you use will depend on the size of your hopscotch grid. Once the game is set up, players take turns hopping through the hopscotch grid, trying to avoid stepping on the water balloons. If a player steps on a water balloon, it will burst, and they will be out of the game. The game continues until there is only one player left, who is declared the winner.
Water Balloon Balance
Have your kids take turns balancing a water balloon on different parts of their body, such as their head, shoulder, or knee. The player who can balance the balloon for the longest amount of time wins!
Water Balloon Hot Potato
Similar to the classic game of hot potato, but with a water balloon! Have your kids stand in a circle and toss the water balloon to each other while music plays. When the music stops, the player holding the balloon is out. The last person standing wins!
Water Balloon Fight
The objective is to throw the water balloons at each other while trying to dodge the balloons thrown by others. When a water balloon hits its target, the person gets soaked and is out of the game. The last player standing wins!
Water Balloon Ring Toss
Water balloon ring toss is a fun game that puts a new spin on the classic ring toss game. To play this game, you will need a bunch of water balloons and several rings, such as hula hoops or pool rings. Set up the game by placing the rings at different distances and heights from the ground, creating a range of difficulty levels.
To play, the player has to toss the water balloon and try to land it inside the ring. The challenge comes from the fact that water balloons are more challenging to throw accurately than regular objects. If the water balloon lands inside the ring, the player gets a point. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Water Balloon Musical Chairs
Water balloon musical chairs is a fun twist on the classic game of musical chairs that will keep kids entertained for hours. To play, you will need a bunch of water balloons and chairs arranged in a circle. Turn on some music and have the kids walk around the chairs in a circle. When the music stops, each child has to sit on a chair. However, there is one less chair than the number of players, so someone is left standing. The player who is standing has to pop a water balloon over their head, getting soaked in the process, and then leave the game. Remove a chair and start the music again. The game continues until there is only one player left, who is declared the winner.
Water Balloon Basketball
Water balloon basketball is a fun and refreshing game that puts a twist on the classic game of basketball. To play, you will need a basketball hoop, a bunch of water-filled balloons, and a group of players. The objective of the game is to score as many points as possible by throwing water balloons through the basketball hoop. The game can be played individually or in teams, depending on the number of players.
To start the game, fill the water balloons with water and place them in a bucket near the basketball hoop. Each player takes turns attempting to throw a water balloon through the hoop. If the water balloon goes through the hoop, the player scores a point. The game can be made more challenging by increasing the distance between the player and the hoop or by adding obstacles, such as a spray of water from a hose, to make it harder to aim accurately.
