Fun Pool Games for Kids & Families

Every pool family eventually hits the same afternoon: it’s 31 degrees, there are six kids in the water, and someone announces they’re bored. Here’s a list to pull out when that happens. It’s sorted roughly from calm to chaotic.

One house rule before any of these: an adult is watching the water the whole time. Our pool safety tips page explains the “water watcher” idea.

Calm games (good for younger swimmers)

1. Treasure dive

Ages: 5+ · Shallow end
Toss sinking rings or pool sticks into the shallow end and see who collects the most. For younger kids, use water that’s waist-deep on them, so it’s more “reaching” than “diving.”

2. Red light, green light

Ages: 4+ · Shallow end
The playground classic, played walking through water. One person at the end calls the lights. Anyone moving on red goes back to the wall. It works well with mixed ages.

3. Floating statues

Ages: 6+
Everyone floats, holding the strangest pose they can. The judge picks a winner, who judges the next round. It’s surprisingly hard to keep a straight face.

4. Ping-pong push

Ages: 5+
Players push a ping-pong ball across the pool using only their breath. It’s a good one for practising breath control above water.

Active games (confident swimmers)

5. Marco Polo

Ages: 6+
“It” keeps their eyes closed and calls “Marco.” Everyone else answers “Polo.” Agree in advance whether getting out of the pool counts, because someone will try it.

6. Sharks and minnows

Ages: 7+
One shark in the middle, minnows on one wall. Minnows try to cross without being tagged. Anyone tagged becomes a shark. Set a “no dunking” rule for tagging.

7. Noodle relay

Ages: 6+
Teams pass a pool noodle down the line using only their knees, or race to the other end riding a noodle like a horse. It’s silly, and it’s fair for weaker swimmers.

8. Beach-ball volleyball

Ages: 8+
Run a rope or a line of noodles across the middle. A beach ball moves slowly enough that younger players can keep up with older ones.

9. Water-balloon toss

Ages: 5+
Partners toss a water balloon back and forth, stepping back after each catch. Pick up every scrap of balloon afterward. It ends up in the skimmer basket otherwise.

Games for teens and adults

10. Underwater tic-tac-toe

Ages: 10+
Use sinking rings and a grid made of weighted rope or pool sticks. Each turn, a player swims down to place a piece. Play it in comfortable depth, with no breath-holding contests.

11. Cannonball judges

Ages: 10+ · Deep end only
Score jumps on splash size and style. Only in water deep enough for jumping, feet-first entries only, and one person in the landing zone at a time.

12. Pool basketball

Ages: 8+
A floating hoop turns the shallow end into a court. Keep the hoop away from the steps and walls, where players tend to collide.

Games to skip

Breath-holding competitions and “chicken fights” with kids on shoulders are the ones we’d leave out. The first can cause blackouts underwater with very little warning. The second ends with heads hitting each other or the pool wall more often than anyone plans.

Keeping the water ready for a crowd

A busy pool day uses up chlorine fast. Sunscreen, sweat and dozens of swimmers add up. Test the water before guests arrive and again afterward, and shock in the evening if it’s been a big day. Our pool maintenance guide covers the routine. For toys and floats, drop by our North York retail store and see what is in stock.