Celebrating the 4th of July with friends, family, and a splash in the water is a classic summer tradition. Whether gathering around a backyard pool or heading to your favorite local lake to play some water games, keeping the kids entertained, active and safe is a top priority.
In that spirit, FOSS offers five more water games for your holiday swim time. (Check out additional classic games in our first water games post.) Playing one of these games is an excellent way to help children build water confidence, practice their swimming skills, and burn off some energy before the fireworks begin.
Safety First for the Fourth: Print These
Anytime you are near the water, and especially when there are large groups and lots of activity, it’s important for everyone to know and abide by the same water safety rules. We have some easy resources to help make sure safety is first in everyone’s mind.
- 6 Rules for Water Safety: Download and distribute or send them to participants before you gather.
- Water Watcher Tag: Download, print and affix to an object or lanyard. Whoever has it is designated Water Watcher, ensuring someone is always on point.
- Remember the rules: An adult must always be watching; no one swims alone; kids get permission before entering water; and everyone needs to know their limits.
5 More Water Games
The Atomic Whirlpool
If you are hosting your 4th of July gathering at a backyard pool, the Atomic Whirlpool is a way to get kids working together. Have all the kids line up single-file along the edge of the shallow end, then start walking around the perimeter of the shallow area in a large circle. As they speed up to a jog, their movement will generate a surprisingly strong, circular current in the water.
After a minute or two of moving in the same direction, tell everyone to turn around and walk against the current – a thrilling experience.
Popsicle Freeze Tag
One child is designated as “It” and tries to tag the other players. When a swimmer is tagged, they become a “popsicle” and must stand frozen with their arms raised straight above their heads.
To become unfrozen, another player must swim completely underwater and pass between the frozen player’s legs. This water game encourages kids to practice holding their breath and opening their eyes underwater.
If you have swimmers with varying skill levels, you can modify the unfreezing rule so that simply tapping the frozen player’s knee under the water releases them.
Floating Target Practice
When celebrating at a lake or swimming hole, take advantage of the open water with Floating Target Practice.
This water game is just what it sounds like: three or four hula hoops and a set of foam or plastic flying discs that float. Anchor the hula hoops a few yards from the shoreline using small weights and strings, creating floating targets.
Children can stand in the water or on the shore and take turns. You can assign different point values to each hoop based on its distance from the shore.
The Beach Bucket Relay
Divide the children into two teams and provide each team with a large, empty bucket placed on the beach. Give the first player of each team a small plastic cup.
When you say go, the first player must run to the lake, fill their cup with water, balance it as they run back, and dump it into their team’s bucket before passing the cup to the next person in line. The first team to fill their bucket wins.
To keep the game fair and encouraging for all ages, offer larger cups to toddlers and smaller cups to teenagers.
The Invisibottle
The Invisibottle is a fun water game for pools and clear-water lakes. Take a clear plastic water bottle, remove the wrapper completely, fill it to the top with pool or lake water, and screw the cap back on. When you toss the bottle into the water, it sinks and seemingly disappears.
Have the kids line up on the edge of the water with their eyes closed while you hide the bottle. Once you give the signal, they can jump in and begin the search. Hunting for the bottle encourages kids to practice their diving skills and underwater swimming.
For beginner swimmers who might need a little extra help, leave a brightly colored cap on the bottle.
Guiding your children through these water games is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday while reinforcing essential water safety and swimming skills. We believe that learning to swim and feeling comfortable in the water is a critical life skill that opens the door to a lifetime of safe, healthy fun.
If you want to help your child become a stronger, safer, and more confident swimmer long after the holiday weekend is over, explore our upcoming classes at Foss Swim School and secure your spot for the upcoming quarter.
