Splash down!

Splash down!

Megan Gates is an active blogger and handles communications on behalf of Elliman.com.  She provides written work to the blogosphere pertaining to New York NY Real Estate . Hampton Rentals , and the latest architecture and design.  Follow Megan on Twitter @ MEGatesDesign

The hot days of summer are calling your kids to come out and play and if your home has a swimming pool, now is the perfect time to put it to use! People love parties, and if the pool or other water games are involved, there's sure to be tons of fun for all ages.

A pool party is easy to plan, and can be conformed to fit the age of any child. Of course, safety must be the most important factor to consider before any party planning begins! The number one rule that everyone must abide by is making sure no child is ever left alone in or around the swimming pool. A child can drown in as little as 3 inches of water, so even if you only have a "baby pool" it can still post risk. Make certain there is competent adult supervision at all times, and then you can proceed with the fun.

Making some lemonade or sweet tea and having lots of ice pops on hand ensures everyone can stay hydrated as well as enjoy the treats. As for games, start out with water balloons. Divide the kids into teams of two kids each. Give each team a beach towel and instruct them to hold the shorter ends of the towel to form a sling. Drop a water balloon into the sling and have the kids work together to fling the balloon to the kids holding the other towel to try and catch it. Chances are, some of the balloons will hit the ground and the kids will have a blast dodging the spray!

Another game with water balloons is what I call the "Sit and Splash". This uses larger balloons, filled almost all the way with water and small prizes such as coins. Each child is given a balloon, and when the grown-up says "go!" the children sit on the balloons, bounce on them, and try to make them pop. The first child who breaks their balloon wins the goodies inside!

There's also the "pool noodle limbo", using a foam pool noodle as the limbo stick. This one is always fun, especially if the lawn is nice and wet as well, ensuring lots of giggles as the kids slip and slide on their way under the stick. You can also find some inexpensive float rings and use them as a ring toss over a foam noodle, or even a swimmer's head in the pool! Or, place them on the ground instead of tires for a fun obstacle course, or hang them from a tree branch for a frisbee toss! This time of year, you can find lots of inexpensive outdoor toys for prizes as well, such as bubbles, frisbees, and colorful beach towels. The things you use for the games, can also double as prizes, so there's no buying twice. Swimming pools and water games are so enticing for kids and as long as you play safely, there's no limit to the fun!