Water balloons are a lot of fun for kids of all ages. There are so many different ways you can have organized games so all the kids can get in on the water fun and cool off. Here are some games that the kids can get in on without worrying about an out of control balloon pelting fiasco ending in time outs and tears!

Have the kids get in on a balloon toss. this is a lot of fun if you full the balloons so they are already close to their breaking point. Partner the kids up facing one another. With each toss everyone has to take a step back making the distance to toss and catch with out popping harder and harder. Older toddlers can get in on this one too since the balloons will be big enough for them to easily catch.

Start a water balloon line toss. To get this game going, have all the kids line up. Have your bucket of water balloons at the beginning of the line. start with one, having each kid pass it down to the next. When it gets to the end of the line, they have to send it back to the front. Each time it makes it to the front, add another to the line to be passed back and forth like the first. To make it competitive for the kids, split them up into two groups and are who can keep their balloons going the longest before they have all popped.

Last but not least, you can always play a water balloon version of Hot Potato. Have the kids sit or stand in a circle and start with one balloon. Make sure that the balloons are filled as full as possible so you know that they will eventually pop. Instead of using music to determine who is out, the splash of the balloon does instead. If the game seems to easy add more than one balloon to the circle for the kids to toss around. Periodically, make them increase their tossing speed to make it even more challenging. If you have toddlers around that would like to play, you can have them sit on the ground and roll the balloons to each other. This makes it easier for them to get hands on with out being the one splashed out every time.

Pulling out the water balloons can be a lot of fun but you do need to keep safety for all in mind. This also includes safety for your household pets. Water balloons can be dangerous to both children and pets alike. Make sure that the broken balloons are picked up when you are done to avoid any choking hazard and never let your kids play with them unsupervised. A swallowed balloon is can be very difficult to dislodge from a small throat and can lead to suffocation.

Got some great water outdoor activities for the kids? Let me know. Leave a comment here or you can always find me on Twitter at @HellenWyeth.