50 Epic Pool Party Ideas for Kids
Summer calls for sun-soaked days and splashes of laughter, making it the perfect season for unforgettable pool parties.
Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, a special occasion, or just embracing the joy of childhood, we’ve curated 50 epic pool party ideas that promise to make a splash! From creative games and themed decorations to tasty treats and safety tips, this guide is your ultimate companion for crafting a day filled with excitement and memories.
So, grab your goggles, inflate those floaties, and get ready to dive into a pool party adventure like no other!
Water Balloon Piñata
Hang water balloons filled with colored water or confetti from a tree branch or pergola. Kids take turns hitting them with a pool noodle until they burst, creating a refreshing splash.
Mermaid or Pirate Treasure Hunt
Create a themed treasure hunt where kids search for hidden treasures (like toys or treats) at the bottom of the pool. Provide clues or a treasure map for added excitement.
Giant Bubble Station
Set up a station with giant bubble wands and bubble solution. Kids can create enormous bubbles or chase after them around the pool area.
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Floating Obstacle Course
Use inflatable toys and floating platforms to create a mini obstacle course in the pool. Kids can race against each other or challenge themselves to complete the course.
Splash Limbo
Play a poolside version of limbo using a water stream from a hose instead of a bar. Kids take turns bending backward under the stream without getting soaked.
Watermelon Eating Contest
Cut watermelons into slices and have a contest to see who can eat their slice the fastest while standing in the pool. Messy and fun!
Underwater Dance Party
Create a playlist of kids’ favorite songs and let them dance and swim underwater. Provide waterproof speakers or use a waterproof case for a phone.
Poolside Movie Night
Set up a projector near the pool and host a movie night under the stars. Kids can float on inflatable loungers or sit poolside with popcorn and snacks.
DIY Water Slide
Use a tarp or large plastic sheeting to create a makeshift water slide leading into the pool. Add soap for extra slipperiness and let the kids slide their way into the water.
Water Gun Painting
Fill squirt guns with washable paint diluted with water. Kids can aim at a large canvas or sheets of paper hung nearby to create their own colorful masterpieces.
Frozen T-Shirt Race
Soak T-shirts in water, fold them, and freeze them overnight. Kids race to unfold and put on the frozen shirts. The first one to wear it wins!
Sponge Bullseye Toss
Attach various colored buckets to the pool fence or wall with point values. Kids toss wet sponges or water balloons into the buckets to score points.
Diving Board Contest
Hold a diving board competition with prizes for the best jump, the most creative dive, or the biggest splash.
Poolside Photo Booth
Create a photo booth area with props like beach hats, sunglasses, and inflatable toys. Kids can pose for silly or themed photos to remember the day.
Floatie Race
Kids race across the pool on inflatable floats or pool noodles. You can make it more challenging by adding an obstacle course they have to navigate.
DIY Ice Cream Bar
Set up a station with different flavors of ice cream, cones, toppings, and sauces. Kids can create their own delicious ice cream treats to enjoy by the pool.
Balloon Pop Relay
Divide kids into teams. Each team member swims to a balloon, pops it, retrieves the note inside, and swims back to their team to collect points or follow instructions for the next challenge.
Water Volleyball
Set up a net across the pool and play a game of water volleyball using a beach ball. It’s a fun way to get everyone moving and laughing.
Sandcastle Building
If you have a sandy area near the pool, provide buckets, shovels, and molds for kids to build their own sandcastles. They can even incorporate water from the pool for moats.
Glow Stick Night Swim
For an evening pool party, give kids glow sticks and bracelets to wear as they swim. You can also toss glow sticks into the pool for added underwater ambiance. These ideas are sure to keep the kids entertained and create lasting memories of a fantastic pool party!
Bubble Wrap Stomp
Lay out sheets of bubble wrap by the poolside. Kids can stomp on them to hear the satisfying pop, adding a tactile element to the fun.
Watermelon Bowling
Line up empty 2-liter soda bottles at one end of the pool. Use a watermelon as the bowling ball, and let kids take turns rolling it to knock down the bottles.
Fish Catching
Use magnetic fishing poles with plastic fish or sea creatures attached to the end of a string. Kids can “fish” for prizes or treats floating in the pool.
Lily Pad Race
Place several large foam pads or inflatable pool floats on the water’s surface. Kids race across them without falling into the pool.
Popsicle Diving
Freeze small toys or coins in ice cube trays or small containers filled with water. Kids dive underwater to retrieve the frozen treasures.
Giant Jenga
Play a larger-than-life game of Jenga using oversized wooden blocks placed near the pool. Kids take turns removing blocks without toppling the tower.
Squirt Gun Target Practice
Set up floating targets or empty plastic bottles on the pool deck. Kids use squirt guns to aim and hit the targets from a designated distance.
Flip Flop Decorating
Provide plain flip flops and craft supplies like markers, stickers, and gems. Kids can decorate their flip flops poolside, creating personalized footwear.
Pool Noodle Race Track
Create a track layout with pool noodles on the water’s surface. Kids can race their toy boats or floating objects along the noodle “roads.”
Synchronized Swimming Routine
Encourage kids to choreograph a short synchronized swimming routine to perform for each other. Provide simple props like scarves or pool toys for added flair.
Beach Ball Toss
Inflate several beach balls of different sizes. Kids toss them back and forth across the pool, trying to keep them in the air as long as possible.
Dolphin Races
Kids can wear dolphin or shark fins on their backs and race across the pool like aquatic creatures. It adds a playful twist to traditional swimming races.
Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest
Provide slices of watermelon and have kids see who can spit the seeds the farthest from the edge of the pool.
Miniature Boat Regatta
Kids can build small boats out of materials like foam, cardboard, or recycled bottles. They race their creations across the pool using their breath or small fans.
Colorful Float Parade
Inflate a variety of colorful floats and let kids parade them around the pool in a line or in a circle, creating their own floating parade.
Frozen Drink Station
Set up a station with icy slushies or frozen fruit drinks for kids to cool off and enjoy between swimming and activities.
Splash Pad Fun
If you have access to a splash pad, organize water games like tag or hopscotch with water jets for added excitement.
Hula Hoop Contest
Kids can see who can hula hoop the longest while standing in the shallow end of the pool or balancing on a float.
DIY Beach Balls
Provide plain beach balls and craft supplies like paint, markers, and glitter. Kids can decorate their own beach balls to use during the party.
Water Balloon Volleyball
Divide into teams and use a net stretched across the pool. Instead of a ball, players toss a water balloon over the net. If it bursts on your side, the other team scores a point. These ideas offer a mix of creativity, activity, and fun, ensuring your pool party is a splashing success!
Diving for Glow Sticks
Drop glow sticks into the pool at night and challenge kids to dive down and collect as many as they can. The glowing effect adds excitement to the underwater search.
Water Limbo
Use a stream of water from a hose as the limbo bar. Kids take turns trying to limbo underneath without getting wet.
Poolside DJ Dance Off
Set up a DJ station with a playlist of kid-friendly dance songs. Kids can take turns being the DJ and leading dance-offs or dance competitions by the pool.
Floating Lantern Release
Provide small floating lanterns that kids can decorate with markers or stickers. Release them onto the pool’s surface at dusk for a magical and serene atmosphere.
Shark Hunt
Place shark fin floaties or cutouts in the pool. Kids can compete to find and retrieve the “sharks” while avoiding getting tagged.
Water Balloon Volleyball
Set up a volleyball net over the pool and play a game where teams use water balloons instead of a ball. The team that lets a balloon hit the water loses the point.
Splash Painting
Provide large sheets of paper and water-based paints. Kids can dip various objects like sponges, brushes, or even their hands into the paint and create artwork by splashing it onto the paper.
Rainbow Sprinkler Run
Set up a rainbow-colored sprinkler system that sprays water in arcs over the pool. Kids can run and play under the refreshing spray.
Inflatable Tug of War
Use a large inflatable tube or raft as the “rope” for a tug-of-war game in the water. Kids can compete against each other or against adults for a fun challenge.
Water Balloon Dodgeball
Divide kids into teams and use floating rafts or inflatable barriers as obstacles in the pool. Teams throw water balloons at each other, trying to avoid being hit. These ideas add variety and excitement to your pool party, ensuring everyone has a splashing good time!
