7 Best Toddler Swim Activity Ideas For Summer Fun


splash pad toddler swim ideas

Summer is a time for fun in the sun! And what better way to keep your toddler entertained than with fun swim activities? From pool games to underwater exploration, we’ve got you covered. Please keep reading to discover our top seven picks for toddler swim activities. Have a blast this summer!

toddler swim activity

How Do You Make Swimming Fun For Kids – 6 Ideas

Swimming is a great activity for kids of all ages, but especially for younger children. It’s a great way to stay active and have fun simultaneously. Here are a few ideas to help make swimming even more fun for kids:

  1. Let them swim with their favorite toy. This will help them stay focused and have more fun.
  2. Play games in the pool. There are many games that can be played in the water that are both fun and educational.
  3. Teach them some swim tricks. This will not only make swimming more fun, but it will also help them improve their skills.
  4. Take them to the beach or a water park. These places are specifically designed for fun and relaxation.
  5. Parents can get involved in swimming with their kids in the pool. This is especially true if you have young children that might not be able to swim yet. You can carry your children through the pool and pick them up and dunk them and teach them how to swim. 
  6. Make sure they are always supervised. This is the most important thing you can do to ensure your child’s safety while they’re swimming.

best toddler swim ideas

7 Best Toddler Swim Activities This Summer

  1. Marco Polo
  2. Air Ball
  3. Floatie Race
  4. What Time Is It, Mr. Shark
  5. Pool Basketball
  6. Squirt Gun Standoff
  7. Collecting Gems

splash pad toddler swim ideas

How To Play Marco Polo

Marco Polo is a classic swimming game that is perfect for a hot summer day.

The basic rules are simple: one player is designated as the “polo” player, and the other players swim around him or her in the pool. The polo player must keep their eyes closed at all times, and the other players must swim silently.

When the polo player calls out “Marco,” the other players must respond with “Polo.”

The game continues until the polo player catches someone.

At that point, the caught player becomes the new polo player, and the game starts again.

Marco Polo is a great way to cool off on a hot day, and it’s also a lot of fun. So next time you’re looking for something to do at the pool, give Marco Polo a try.

rubber ducky toy toddler swim ideas

How To Play Air Ball

Air Ball is a really simple and fun game to play in the pool for kids, as a toddler swim activity.

Simply have the children stand upright in the pool and hit a beach ball or very light ball into the air for the next child to hit.

The object of the game is to continue hitting the ball up into the air without ever letting the ball hit the water.

The player that allows the ball to hit the water on their turn will then be counted out.

If you only have two players simply keep track of points for those that allow the ball to hit the water.

How To Play Floatie Race (Raft Race)

There’s nothing quite like a good old-fashioned swim race to get the blood pumping. And what better way to do it than with a few friends and some floaties? Here’s how to make your very own floatie race:

1. Choose your swim route. This can be anything from a lap around the pool to a short distance down the river. Just make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to the distance!

2. Make sure everyone has a floatie that is appropriate for their swim level. You don’t want anyone getting too tired or struggling to stay afloat.

3. When you’re all ready, jump in and swim! The first person to the finish line wins!

4. Don’t forget to have some fun along the way – this is a race after all! Encourage your kids to friendly competition and cheer from the sidelines.

Floatie races are a great way to enjoy some time in the water with friends. So round up a few people, grab some floaties, and get racing!

above ground pool toddler swim

How To Play What Time Is It, Mr. Shark

Swimming is a great way to stay active and have fun, but it’s important to always be aware of your surroundings. This game is geared towards slightly older toddlers or kids that have some swim experience.

What Time Is It, Mr. Shark is a fun game that can help kids (and adults!) learn to be more aware of their surroundings while swimming.

Here’s how to play: everyone swims around in the pool (or other body of water) and when the person who is ‘it’ calls out “What time is it, Mr. Shark?”, everyone has to stop swimming and tread water.

The person who is ‘it’ then swims around and tries to tag as many people as possible.

If you’re tagged by the shark, you become the shark for the next round!

This game is a great way to teach kids about swim safety and awareness, and it’s also just a lot of fun.

So next time you’re looking for a way to beat the heat, grab some friends and hit the pool for a game of What Time Is It, Mr. Shark!

How To Play Pool Basketball

Who says you can only play basketball in a gym? With a little creativity, you can turn your pool into a fun court for an afternoon of water basketball. Here’s how:

First, gather up some swim noodles or pool rafts. You’ll need at least two per team, but more is always better.

Next, find a ball that won’t sink – a beach ball or playground ball works well.

Now it’s time to set up your “net.” Using the noodles, create a goal at each end of the pool.

If you’re feeling extra creative, you can use swim caps or floats to mark out lines on the pool deck – just like a real basketball court!

Now it’s time to get in the water and start playing. Because there’s no gravity to slow things down, pool basketball is fast-paced and lots of fun. Be sure to keep an eye on the ball, and don’t forget to swim between shots!

beach ball toddler swim ideas

How To Play Squirt Gun Standoff – Toddler Swim Activities

Looking for a fun summer activity? Why not try a game of squirt gun standoff?

All you need is a group of friends, some squirt guns, and a swimming pool.

To start the game, each player should fill their squirt gun with water and take a position around the pool.

When everyone is ready, someone will yell “go!” and the game will begin.

The object of the game is to be the last person standing. Players can eliminate other players by hitting them with water from their squirt gun. When a player is hit, they are out of the game.

The last player standing is the winner! Squirt gun standoff is a great way to cool off on a hot summer day.

How To Play Collecting Gems

This is another fun game that young kids can play in a regular pool or in a smaller kiddie pool.

You simply gather some toys or toy gems and drop them into the small pool. Have your children dunk into the water and collect the gems. Then have them deposit their gems into a small sand bucket.

The player that ends up with the most gems is the winner!

Conclusion

Summertime is the perfect time to get your kids into the pool and keep them active.

These seven toddler swim activities are sure to provide hours of entertainment for both you and your little ones.

So grab a floatie, and some sunscreen, and go out and have some fun in the sun! What’s your favorite activity from this list? Tell us down in the comments!

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Mom Money Kids

Stephanie is a former preschool teacher with a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education. Joe is a business owner/contractor with a Bachelor's degree in animal science. Together, we are a husband and wife blogging team, that love creating educational printables, homeschooling our two children, and living on our small homestead. We started Mom Money Kids back in 2020 to inspire families to start their own blogs to help them escape the rat race and be able to spend more time with their children at home. Mom Money Kids offers content that helps families save money, make money, and educate their children.

Additional Fun Toddler Activities