Pool Party Ideas Your Grandkids Will Love

With school almost out and plenty of time to travel and see the family, getting together around the pool will be easier than ever. So throw on your swimsuit and whip out the lemonade –– next time you get to spend time with your grandkids, look to these fun ideas for an amazing DIY bash!

Why Should You Have a Pool Party With Your Grandkids?

Make Memories 

Spending quality time with your grandkids is the best gift either of you can receive! Having a poolside birthday party or classic get-together on a hot summer day is a wonderful way to connect with each other. Children spending time with their grandparents can actually be beneficial to their emotional and social health –– not to mention, it will bring joy to both old and young alike.

Great Exercise

When you make a splash at a summer pool party, you’re getting great exercise. Not only is it great cardio, but it can also help strengthen muscles, improve posture, and boost your heart health. For both children and grandparents, it’s a great way to get moving and have fun. It will also make it much easier for kids to wind down and go to sleep once the sun sets!

Beat the Heat

If you live somewhere where the summers get particularly hot, you don’t need an excuse to hop in the water. Spending a day in the pool is a good way to stay cool on those sweltering afternoons. Just don’t forget to wear waterproof sunscreen!

Set the Scene

Before we get into all the fun, why not set the scene? While summer pool party decoration ideas, pool party favors, pool party food ideas, and even pool party themes aren’t the top priority for a good time, they can certainly help improve everybody’s spirits as soon as they arrive. Whether it’s a full-blown party or a relaxed afternoon with just you and the kids, here are some ways to create a groovy look.

Set Up Tiki Torches

Tiki torches are a great way to set the pool party mood and get that luau or beach party look, while also serving a few other functions. For example, they can create a perimeter for different games. Many tiki torches are also insect-repellent, which can come in handy to keep the mosquitos at bay. 

Pair these torches with tropical decorations like paper lanterns, inflatable flamingos, streamers, and artificial palm trees and you’ll set yourself up for the best pool party ever!

Create a Picnic Spread

A summery party is only as good as its snacks! With all the activity going on at a pool party, it’s likely the little ones will be hankering for sandwiches at some point –– and so will you! Crackers, cookies, BBQ, tacos, donuts, carrots, watermelon, and whatever else you can think of will make an excellent spread to accompany the fun. 

Just make sure to set a time for everyone to eat –– you want to avoid getting stomach cramps while in the pool.

Sport Your Favorite Bathing Suit

New season, new suit! Wearing a well-fitting and flattering swimsuit will help you feel comfortable having fun with the whole family. Flip-flops, sunglasses, cover-ups, and board shorts will also allow you maximum comfort and practicality as you move in and around the pool. 

Homemade Lemonade

Homemade lemonade is a summertime staple to make sure everybody stays hydrated. Of course, it doesn’t have to be lemonade –– fruity punch, iced tea, or any kind of chilled beverage will do the trick. With all the splashing and swimming, it’s important to make sure everyone has enough to drink. If you can prepare it as a family, even better!

Fun Towels

While not necessary, having a set of fun, colorful towels will certainly put a smile on your grandkids’ faces. There are plenty of towels nowadays that depict characters, toys, and movies your grandkids love –– if you have a bit of extra money to spend, these will make great souvenirs for them to take home. Alternatively, you can have them personalized or monogrammed!

Pool Toys

You don’t need much to have fun in the pool, but toys can certainly help! If you don’t mind spending a bit of money, stock up on some gadgets and gizmos to keep the kids entertained. This can include water shooters, beach balls, donut floaties, pool noodles, and more! Inflatable pool floats and tubes are also handy to sit down and relax in.

Pump Up the Jams

Nothing will spice up your next pool party like a groovy playlist! If you’ve got a jukebox, stereo, or speaker at hand, don’t hesitate to bring a little music into the mix. Having some songs in the background will get everyone excited to start the fun –– and may even encourage a bit of singing and dancing.

Pool Party Games Games

No pool party is complete without its set of games to play! Whether it’s a simple game of Marco Polo or a more involved treasure hunt, kids love a bit of friendly competition. To keep yourself and your grandkids entertained, here are some fun and classic pool games that will surely be a blast.

Marco Polo

We all know this classic game, but here are the rules if you need a reminder. It’s basically tag: one person, the tagger, must close their eyes while all the other players spread around the pool. With their eyes still closed, the tagger calls “Marco!” while the other players must answer “Polo!” Using only their voices as a guide, the tagger has to catch somebody.

Diving for Gold

This game requires a couple of knick-knacks: rings, pool toys, or any small item that will sink to the bottom of the pool. Have your grandkids line up at the edge of the pool, covering their eyes while you toss the items in. Then it’s time for them to don their goggles, hop in, and retrieve them!

Pro-Tip: Make the game more interesting by offering a prize. Toss coins in the pool and allow your grandkids to keep whichever ones they find!

Aquatic Simon Says

If you haven’t played Simon Says before, here’s how it goes: one player is Simon. Simon gives the other players instructions that they have to follow, preceded by saying “Simon says.” For example, “Simon says: touch your toes.” Then all players have to touch their toes. If somebody does not follow the instructions or acts without Simon saying “Simon says” first, they become the new Simon.

Freeze Dance

This is where a stereo or speaker really comes in handy. One person operates the play button on the stereo; while the music players, everyone is free to dance and splash around the pool. When the music is paused, they have to freeze –– if they move, they’re out of the game!

Swim Race

If everybody involved can swim, have your grandkids swim from one end of the pool to the other and see who is the quickest speedster! There’s nothing to tucker out a couple of rowdy kids than a good old-fashioned race. 

Whirlpool

If you have multiple adults or older swimmers around, here’s a fun trick to create great waves in a pool: gather all the kids in the center of the pool. The adults form a circle around them while holding kickboards. Pushing the kickboards in and out of the water will create an exciting host of waves to play in!

Water Fight

A water fight is a great way to stay cool in and out of the pool. Fill up water shooters, balloons, sponges, and buckets to get started. Just make sure everybody stays safe. As any lifeguard would say, no running by the pool!

Statues

This game is a great way to test everybody’s balance. Players move around the pool until the leader calls out a shape. They can even demonstrate a pose themselves. All players must copy the shape and hold it for as long as they can. Whoever holds it longest, wins!

Final Thoughts

There are endless ways to have a fun and exciting pool party with your grandkids. As with any pool activity, you should keep in mind: safety first. Especially when young kids are involved, be sure to have an adult watching at all times.

Splishing and splashing through the water is a wonderful way to spend some quality family time. Whether it’s just the immediate family or all the kids from the neighborhood, you’re sure to have a blast! 

Sources:

14 Reasons It's Important for Kids to Spend Time With Grandparents | LoveToKnow

Benefits of Swimming | Swimming

Fun swimming pool games for the family for the Summer holidays | Swimming