Water games and water fun are synonymous with summer. And they’re sure to be a hit with children at your church! Cool, refreshing, and fun—water is the perfect element when the sun is scorching. Plus, the Bible is brimming with stories that reference water. So water games are a great tool to drench kids’ faith growth!
Whether your children’s ministry is hosting an all-day water event at church or a single activity to help kids cool off on a hot summer day, use these water games. The 8 wet-and-wild activities below will help kids have fun while refreshing their faith.
8 Exciting Water Games Kids Will Love
1. Raindrop Relay
Age Level: 5 to 12
Bible Connect: Noah and the Flood (Genesis 7)
Materials: Two buckets per team, a plastic cup for each child, a permanent marker, water, and a sharp-tipped object such as scissors or a letter opener
Use water games to help kids imagine the Great Flood.
Before the game, poke holes on the bottoms and sides of the cups.
Draw a line with a permanent marker to indicate the halfway point on both the outside and inside of two buckets. Form two teams, and have kids sit on the ground in straight lines. Place one bucket filled with water at the front of each line. Place a lined bucket at the back of each line. Then give each child a leaky cup.
On “go,” have the first child in line fill his or her cup and carry it over the heads of the other kids sitting in line. Then have that child dump the remaining water into the bucket at the end of the line. Then the line shifts forward, and the cup carrier sits in the back of the line. The game continues until teams fill their back buckets to the halfway mark.
Dry-Off Debrief
Ask:
- How did it feel to be constantly rained on during the game?
- Is this game like or unlike what Noah and his family may have experienced when it rained 40 days and nights?
- How do you think Noah and his family felt when they saw God’s rainbow?
- Tell about a time you experienced that kind of hope.
2. Ice Cold Toes
Age Level: 6 to 12
Bible Connect: The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44-46)
Materials: A kiddie pool, ice cubes, water, ice cube trays, and green food coloring
This game will help kids understand the value of the kingdom of heaven.
Prior to the game, freeze a dozen ice cubes dyed with green food coloring. Fill the bottom of the pool with ice cubes and mix in the green ice cubes.
Have kids remove their shoes and socks. Challenge them to retrieve the green ice cubes—which represent the treasure—out of the pool using only their toes.
Dry-Off Debrief
Ask:
- What, if any, obstacles did you face when trying to get the treasure?
- To what lengths would you go to pursue your treasure? Explain.
Read aloud the Scripture.
Ask:
- What do you treasure?
- Why does Jesus compare heaven to a treasure?
3. Dodge the Stones
Age Level: 6 to 12
Bible Connect: David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
Materials: Various large obstacle items, such as plastic garbage cans, tables, and chairs; boundary markers, such as orange cones; buckets; large sponges; and water
Play this water game to help kids re-create the battle between David and Goliath.
Create a play area using boundary markers. Place large obstacles kids can hide behind within the boundaries.
Choose several kids to be “stone throwers,” and station them just outside the boundaries. Give the stone throwers buckets of water and sponges. Tell the other kids the object of the game is to run from one end of the play area to the other without being “stoned” by wet sponges. Play several times. Have kids switch roles so everyone has a chance to cool off by getting “stoned” with the wet sponges.
Dry-Off Debrief
Ask:
- How did it feel to throw “stones” at kids?
- Was it easy or difficult to hit kids? Explain.
- What helped you dodge the stones?
- How do you think David felt when he stoned Goliath?
- What are some “Goliath’s” you have to defeat daily?
- How does God help us in these situations?
4. Swim, Jonah, Swim!
Age Level: 6 to 10
Bible Connect: Jonah and the Big Fish (Jonah 1)
Materials: A swimming pool
This is one of those water games that works great at camp or a church pool party. You’ll need a lifeguard and extra volunteers to monitor safety.
Select one person to be the “Big Fish.” Have everyone else jump in the pool and swim around. But tell kids they aren’t allowed to be within 3 feet of the pool sides. When the Big Fish shouts, “Big Fish!” he or she tries to tag others in the pool before they can touch the sides. The first person tagged is the next Big Fish. If no one is tagged, the Big Fish starts over.
Dry-Off Debrief
Read aloud the Scripture. Ask:
- Was it easy or difficult to get away from the Big Fish? Explain.
- How is this game like or unlike how Jonah felt when swallowed by the fish?
- What did Jonah do when he was captured?
- What can you do when you’re afraid?
