OLD FASHIONED SUMMER FUN: Get Wet Games

This is for my upcoming TV spot on News Channel 8 (WTNH) Good Morning Connecticut Weekend show, Saturday, July 19th at 7:23 am

Get Wet Games (DOWNLOAD PDF)
We all have our own favorite backyard memories. Mine include playing wiffle ball and arguing over who would retrieve the occasional stray ball from our cranky neighbor’s lawn; organizing crazy talent shows with the neighborhood kids; building secret forts with my brothers, and of course, running under the sprinkler. Keep that old-fashioned spirit alive in your own backyard this summer with these wet and wacky games for your kids to play.

WATER LIMBO
To get started, have the players for a single line. Have an adult be in charge of the hose, setting the stream high at first, then lowering it slightly after each round. Kids limbo under the spray, and those who touch the stream and get wet are out of the game; the one who stays the driest the longest is the winner.

SPRINKLER "FREEZE"
Set up a sprinkler in the backyard, then have players dance, hop around and strike poses under the spray. Players must dance until the sprinkler is turned off, at which point they must "freeze". If a player doesn't freeze without moving, they are out of the game.

JUMP ROPE SPLASH
This game needs at least four players.

You'll need:
A long (double) jump rope or 14-foot piece of cotton clothesline
Large plastic tumblers, filled to the brim with water

Two players begin turning the jump rope. Players must jump into the turning rope, holding a cup of water and complete three consecutive skips before jumping out. Once all the players have finished jumping, the player with the most water left wins.

WATER BALLOON TOSS
You'll need:
Balloons

Fill up water balloons. Divide players into pairs and have them stand a few feet apart from each other. Give each pair a water balloon.

Blow a whistle or yell “Go!” to start the game. Players with a balloon tosses it to their teammate, who tries to catch it without it breaking. After each successful catch, all pairs of players move a step apart for the next toss. If a water balloon falls and breaks, that pair is out. The last pair standing with their water balloon intact wins the game.

SPONGE PASS
You'll need:
Large sponges
Buckets (or large containers, like Tupperware) of water
Empty buckets (or large containers, like Tupperware)

Divide players into teams and have each team form a line with teamates standing about an arms length away from each other. Place a large container of water at the end of each line, then place a sponge in each container. On the opposite end of each line, place an empty bucket. Blow a whistle or yell “Go!” to start the game. The players closest to the buckets of water, should grab the sponge and toss it to their closest teamate, who then tosses it to the next teammate, and so on, until it reaches the end. The last person in line squeezes the sponge out into the empty bucket, then runs to the beginning of the line, dips the sponge in the water, and starts passing it again. After every player has taken a turn, the team with the most water in their bucket wins. (Note: If a team drops their sponge, the sponge has to start back at the beginning of the line).

ICY TOES RELAY RACE
You'll need:
Kid’s wading pool
Ice cubes

Decide how long the game should be; usually 1-2 minutes is about the right amount of time. Have players sit on the ground around the wading pool with their feet in the water. When players are ready, throw ice cubes into the pool and yell, “Go!” Using only their feet, players must remove the ice cubes from the pool and place them on the ground. The player who gets the most cubes in the designated time is the winner.