Fun & Safe Swimming Activities Kids Will Love

Having a pool available in the backyard is a great way to encourage your kids to get outside and burn off some energy. Once your San Diego swimming pool installation is complete, it’s time to plan fun activities that get kids excited about building their swimming abilities. These kid-friendly swimming activities are perfect for keeping kids engaged, whether they’re playing with siblings or an entire group at a birthday party.

Put an Aquatic Spin on Playing Tag

Playing tag on dry land is a popular pastime for kids to engage in during outdoor play. While land-dwelling kids might simply call out that someone is “it,” you’ll find having a pool available adds an extra element of fun. Kids often enjoy deeming a leader as being the “shark” who then chases all the “minnows.” Once the shark tags a minnow, he or she will become the new leader who gets to chase his or her friends. You’ll find this is a great game to suggest after swimming lessons to encourage kids to practice their new skills.

Create an Underwater Obstacle Course

Kids love challenges, and you can create an obstacle course that encourages them to dip their heads under the water and practice holding their breath. Just remember to use pool-safe toys and materials to create your obstacle course, and always have an adult on hand to observe the activity. With this in mind, you can use floating hoops for kids to swim below and pop out of. Inflatable mats can serve as obstacles kids need to swim under, and lightly weighted pool noodles can create hoops for kids to swim through below water or push out of their way as they move through the course.

Race Rafts across the Water

Inflatable pool floats create perfect lightweight rafting boats for kids. You can encourage the swimmers to line their rafts up on one side of the pool. Then have someone tell them when to go. As the kids race across the water, they’ll build arm strength. Alternatively, you could use kickboards to help them build better leg coordination for swimming.

Plan a Synchronized Swimming Performance

Installing a speaker system around your pool gives you lots of opportunities for adding music to your favorite outdoor space. While you might have to tolerate a few kid-friendly tunes, you can bet this activity will be a hit. After getting suggestions from the kids, set up a playlist. Then get them to create choreographed dances to their favorite songs. Your kids will be expressing their creativity while also learning how to move their bodies through the water.

Play Red Light, Green Light

Teaching kids to follow instructions in the pool is important for their safety. While your kids will think they’re just having fun racing with their friends, you’ll also be teaching them to listen for verbal warnings from adults nearby. You can also alter this activity to fit the needs of younger swimmers by moving the race to a part of the pool where they can stand, such as near the stairs.

If you don’t have a pool yet but you’re ready to get started, reach out to the experienced pros at San Diego Pools. We’re the experts in pool installation San Diego homeowners have trusted for more than four decades. Give us a call today to learn how we can help you create the perfect design with just the right features that make your pool the one you and your family have always dreamed of.