Water Balloon Games and Water Fight Ideas for Kids

When the weather heats up, nothing beats a backyard water fight. A little planning turns a soggy free-for-all into proper games, and the right water guns make it easier for every age to join in.

Here is how to set up, how many balloons to fill, and a list of games for the whole outdoor toys crowd.

How to set up a water fight

1. Pick the spot. A flat lawn away from the house is best.
2. Set a boundary. Mark it with cones, buckets or a hose laid on the grass.
3. Fill buckets and tubs first. Put them in the middle so refills are quick.
4. Agree the rules. A common one is no aiming at faces.
5. Pick teams. Two even teams keep the games fair.
6. Have towels ready. Put dry clothes and towels within easy reach.

How many water balloons do you need?

The easiest way to plan is per player. Roughly 10 balloons each is enough for a short game, and a few spares help for the ones that burst early. The 200 pack water balloons comes with a plastic funnel, which makes filling a lot faster.

Fill balloons in batches just before you play, and keep them in a shaded bucket so they stay cool and ready. Tie them off as you go, and ask a second helper to take over filling if the line gets long.

Water balloon games

1. Balloon toss. Partners stand facing each other and toss a balloon back and forth, stepping back after every catch. The last pair with an unbroken balloon wins. Soft, gentle catches work best.
2. Bucket relay. Teams carry balloons one at a time from a start line to a bucket without popping them. Use a spoon or a cup for an extra challenge.
3. Hot potato. Pass a balloon around a circle while someone counts down. Whoever is holding it at zero is out.
4. Dodge the balloon. One player is the thrower and everyone else tries to avoid being hit while crossing the lawn.
5. Target practice. Draw targets on a fence or hang an old sheet, and score points for each hit from a marked line.

Water gun games

Water guns suit longer games because they hold more water than a balloon. The croc water blaster holds 500ml, so it is good for the team that needs to keep firing.

• Cup knock-down. Stack plastic cups on a table or fence and see which team clears theirs first. Reset the stacks between rounds.
• Capture the bucket. Each team guards a bucket and tries to fill the other team's bucket first using only water guns, with a time limit of a few minutes.
• Cool-down tag. The person who is it uses a water gun to tag others instead of touching them.
• Moving targets. One player runs along a line while the others take turns aiming.

Keep it fair and running smoothly

A water fight has a way of getting chaotic, so a few small habits help. Use one adult as the referee who calls start and stop, and run games in short rounds of five to ten minutes. Between rounds, everyone refills at the buckets, so nobody is left behind with an empty gun.

For mixed ages, give smaller kids a head start or a closer target. A foam shooter has a long reach, while a small pistol is easier to handle, so letting players pick their own size keeps things even. When the heat is on, shade and a cold drink between rounds make the day last longer.

Hosting a party? A small water gun is an easy addition to party favours for the guests to take home.