Water Games

Any parent knows how much kids love water games. It is almost as if children have a built in radar for even the tiniest puddle, which needs to be jumped in, gumboots or otherwise!

Playing with water doesn't always mean they need to get soaking wet, there are activities like helping to wash the car, washing some toy clothes in a basin or using a watering can that still allow them to enjoy the qualities of water. In all honesty though, not much beats a simple squirting with the hose!

Bathtime Fun

In The Bath
By providing some easy props your kids can stay entertained in the bath for hours.
Pouring jugs, cups, funnels and seives and other kitchen items are a good way to learn about some of the properties of water, basically whether things float, sink or do something in between. The best item I have discovered for bath games is the good old ping pong ball. Cheap thrills for all involved!
Bought items like boats, ducks and novelty sponges also encourage creative play.

Bath Time Fizz
You'll need-  Bicarbonate of Soda, Cornflour, Cream of Tartar, Essential Oils
Get your kids to help you measure out 3/4 cup of bicarbonate soda, 1/2 cup cream of tartar and 2 tablespoons of cornflour into a glass jar with a lid. Stir them thoroughly to remove lumps and add a few drops of essential oil. Stir again and it's ready for use.
By adding teaspoons into the bath they can enjoy the soothing smells as well as the fizz!

Wet Fun, Dry Clothes

Outdoors Tub
I have given my kids a large shallow washing tub which they like to use for washing plastic dishes, dirty toy clothes and even dirty teddies and dolls. This actually helps me out, saving me from having to handwash dirty toys and they have a great time splashing about without getting too wet.
Another good item to invest in is a kiddie kitchen which has a small sink, oven and usually a dish rack. Your kids can cook you mud pies and get some more practice at doing the dishes. (All good practice for the real thing!)

Happy Plants
Your kids can help in the garden by using the watering can to keep the plants happy. They can learn that water and sunlight are pretty much the only things that most plants need, apart from a healthy soil.

Dripping Wet

Balloon Toss
Fill up water balloons. Have one balloon for every two persons. Form into teams and form two lines facing each other about a metre apart. Partners throw water balloons to each other to catch. If they drop the balloon they must exit the game. After each toss step back by one foot. Winners are the remaining partners and everyone else gets soaked!
Can also be done with sponges.

Slip and Slide
For all the family (and the neighbours!).
Get a long sheet of thick plastic. Lay the plastic on a flat or slightly sloping grass lawn. Have adults or kids each hold down the edges every few feet for safety. With a garden hose or long sprinkler keep water running along the plastic. The kids (and adults!) can slide; on their feet, stomachs, or rear ends.
Requires adult supervision to make sure kids aren't running too fast.

Lily Pads
Good group game. Each player is given 2 paper (plastic) cups filled with water. In front of each player on the floor there are 5 cardboard circles (shaped to look like lilypads) that are situated at the equal distance from each other. The players' task is to get to the finish line jumping from one circle to another. The player who has water in his/her glasses at the end of the game is the winner. To be more accurate and to make the game funnier you may measure the water in the glasses by placing tape on the outside at the beginning water level.

Water Brigade
Another good group water game. For each player there is a chair with a bowl of water and a spoon on it. A few steps away there are two more chairs with an empty glass on each of them. The object of the player is to fill the empty glass with water as soon as possible. The player who is the first to do it is the winner.