Chances are if the summer heat wave has already hit your house then you water bill as probably sky rocketed. From hanging out in the pool to jumping in the sprinklers, water is a definite must have during the steamy summer months. There are a lot of different ways you can show your kids a good time without having to amp up the water bill quite as much as you normally do. With these nine tips your kids will have the time of their life this summer, while you count your savings. The best thing is, each of these tips are totally simple to set up and usually require items found in the typical household, which is an added bonus. So get your bathing suit on and enjoy some summer fun!
1. Water Gun Fight
Water guns are a cheap and efficient way to get the entire family drenched without using up too much water. Most households with already have a few water guns lying around the house, but if you find yourself without this popular toy don’t fret. You can buy water guns for surprisingly cheap at dollar stores, thrift shops and department stores. They tend to range in size and price, so make sure to pick something that you can afford and is appropriate for the age group of your home. Once you’ve picked out your water guns you can easily fill a bucket up with water for filling the guns up. This will help conserve water as filling up with the hose usually ends up wasting quite a bit. When everyone is set to go lay down some ground rules and begin your war. You can even turn the war into a game, like capture the flag, but make sure you consider your age group before creating too many rules.
2. Dunking Booth
Dunking booths are a great way to get people drenched in a hurry. This can be a cool fundraiser game or a simple and funny way for kids to get their aggression out on their siblings. A dunking booth might be a bit harder to set up, so if you’re unsure of the technique you need to use then the internet is your best place for a few tutorials. One of the most effective ways to save money on a dunking booth is to use the bucket method. This will allow you to use a minimal amount of water, opposed to a booth that requires a pool, and will save you money on supplies and tools. This booth usually relies on a ball hitting a plank that knocks the bucket of water onto the head of the dunkee, but make sure to run a trial before you sit anyone under the dunking area.
3. Water Balloons
Nothing says fun quite like a water balloon. These items are super cheap at any department or dollar store so you should be able to stock up on enough balloons to last you all season. The best thing about water balloons is they’re easy to incorporate into a lot of different games. You can place musical chairs, capture the flag or a good number of balance games with these balloons. One of the most popular ways to use a water balloon is to have a full on water balloon war. This ensures everyone is going to get drenched and have a whole lot of fun. Before watering up the balloons make sure you have the little tool that comes in most packages. This will allow you to conserve water as you water up each balloon. It is also important to pick up the broken balloons when you’ve finished playing. These can cause a lot of damage to birds or other animals that pick them up off the ground.
4. Wash Cars/Kids Toys
Kids love being productive which is where a car wash or toy wash will really come in handy on hotter days. Have the kids head outside with all of their washable toys. You can fill up a baby pool of soapy water and let the have some fun as they clean up their toys. Everyone wins with this game as the kids have fun and keep cool and there’s one less thing in the home to clean! Car washes are great, especially for older kids. Have the kids wash your car and if they’re still feeling ambitious have them have them put up a sign for neighbors or passerbys cars. This will help them make a little extra money which could help towards a trip to the pool or the water park. You could even let the kids wash bicycles if they have them. In order to save on the water bill try to make sure the kids utilize a bucket of water rather than keeping the hose on the entire time. This will minimize water usage and help your grass from getting drowned in the process.
5. Sponge Games
If you’re looking for a cheap toy that is great in the water then the sponge is your perfect match. This amazing cleaning item can be purchased cheaply just about anywhere which will help you save even more money. They can also be incorporated into a large amount of relay games as well as other water friendly games. One popular game is a sponge race which requires you to break the kids into teams. You will need two buckets for each team and one sponge per team. Fill up one bucket with water and add the sponge to this bucket. When the game begins have the first child pick up the sponge and run to the empty bucket. The child will ring out the sponge and return to give it to the next child. This child will fill up the sponge and complete the same task. After a certain amount of time the bucket with the most water wins. There’s a lot more games available with the use of sponges, so don’t be afraid to browse online for some creative ideas. You’ll be so glad you did for the sake of the heat and your water bill!
6. Relay Races
Relay races are one of the best ways to get your kids out to get some exercise this weekend. Adding water to the races makes it an even more memorable experience for everyone involved. There’s a lot of different ways to create a relay race for your kids, so make sure to use your imagination. You can easily find tips online which will help you create a fun race the kids will want to run all the time. Don’t be afraid to use the entire backyard either. Make sure to utilize items in the home too, such as towels. This can take a simple relay race and make it absolutely unforgettable. You may also want to consider adding a bunch of different relay races together to help make the course more interesting. Some ideas to add to your races would be a water fall limbo, water balloon balance games or even the sponge game explained before. The more fun you have with your ideas, the more fun your kids will have with the game!
7. Sprinkler Play
Sprinklers are the classic play time for most kids in summer. It helps save some water and allows kids to get wet as they run through the device. It doesn’t matter what type of sprinkler you have as your kids are bound to have some fun. Of course, you can add a little more fun to the play time though. Try tricking a sprinkler under your trampoline and have the kids jump over the water this way. If you have more than one sprinkler you can always have the kids race around the sprinklers. If you’re looking to save some money then take the kids to the park when they water the grass. This allows the kids to have fun with other children and won’t affect your water bill at all. It also allows the kids to race through more sprinklers! You could also have the kids run through the sprinkles during your scheduled watering time. This way your plants will get water and your kids get to have some fun.
8. Slip n Slide
One timeless toy for kids is the slip n slide. A lot of people already have these in the home, but you should be able to purchase a basic one for a low price. If the price is too much then try to grab one at the end of the season when they are usually place on the clearance rack. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the slip n slide this season though! Simply grab an old tarp and lay it on the ground. With a little baby oil and some water this will create the largest slip n slide on the block. The best thing is you won’t have to use too much water to make it slippery for the kids. You can come up with a lot of games to make the slide more fun, so get creative and enjoy the laughter.
9. Water Sports
Believe it or not, you can turn just about any sport into an exciting sports game that kids will love and will help cool them down. One of the sports is tug of war. Grab some old towels and soak them in some water after tying them together. Have the kids play over some water, may it be a pool or a muddy hole in the back yard. As the kids pull on the towels they’ll begin to get wet and will lose grip on the towel, so the chances of someone getting dunked is far greater. You can also turn dodge ball into a wet sport using small sponges or special balls designs to take in water. This could end up being your kids new favorite game and will have them feeling cool before the first team can win. Of course, if you’re more into traditional sports then use a foam ball drenched in water for your volley ball tournament. You can also use this for touch football or baseball. It might not be a good idea to do this for sports that involve kicking the ball too much as it could capture dirt and sticks which would be dangerous for the eyes.
This summer your kids will be in for a real treat as your create such exciting games for them. These nine tips should be able to get your and your children through the summer which will help cease the boredom many kids complain about. The best thing is, with the kids outside playing in the water you won’t have to worry about your water bill skyrocketing due to constant use of the television and gaming consoles. The games shouldn’t harm your water bill too much either, which will really make planning out your other summer treats a whole lot easier!
