1. Start with a Pool

Photo Credit: childish_david

Okay, so maybe you don’t own an in ground Olympic sixe swimming whole. That’s okay. Buy 5 (or 6…) kiddy size pools. Arrange them in a circle close together and fill with bags and bags of ice. Your toes will thank you. Or not!

2. Now Add a Pool Noodle

Photo Credit: *hb19 (R.I.P.)

Using a nail, poke wholes randomly through the noodle. Stuff one end with a plastic garbage bag and seal with duct tape. Slide a water hose through the noodle and you have now created a sprinkler!

3. Water Balloons and Water Guns

These are a given when you think water. Fill one of the kiddy pools with water balloons. Have a good supply of water guns and blasters ready, and prepare to get wet. Colorful buckets are awesome to fill and pour over unsuspecting heads, too!

4. Water Games

Photo Credit: MonicaSmoot

This is such a fun game to play! Take a paper plate and cut the center out. Staple this to a popsicle stick. Tape a piece of crepe paper behind the center of the empty hole. Now, the object of the game is to have the “sprayer” use his water gun to blast the crepe paper out of the target. It may be impossible to avoid the water spray!

5. Water Tubes

Photo Credit: scooterboi06

Using PVC pipe, vinyl pipe, funnels, and sprinkler heads, construct an amazing water tube. This can get expensive, so this would be fun to add to over time. But little ones really have fun!

6. Car Wash

Photo Credit: Ryan Hadley

Yes, it is work, but it’s also a blast to spray each other! Make sure you let everyone know they will be getting wet. You don’t want the neighborhood kids going home mad!

7. Make a Water Slide

Photo Credit: Scott Ableman

Don’t have a water slide? Make one! Use your regular slide and duct tape the water hose to top. Use stakes to pin a blue tart over some lawn chair cushions at the bottom of the slide. Please supervise younger children. This can be very slippery!

Put two or three of these together on a hot summer day and you have an at-home, admissions-ticket free water park! Did I miss your favorite water game? Let me know, and I’ll add it to my list!

Top Photo Credit: isayx3