Water Birthday Party
Pump up the playlist while kids dash and dance through a sea of sprinklers. When the music stops everyone must freeze!
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Inflatable Fun
A bucket of water balloons is all kids need to have a splashing good time with these game:
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Game: Pass + Pop
Have kids sit or stand in a circle and pass the balloon to their right. When the buzzer goes off, the child holding the water balloon gets to pop it.
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Game: Dodge Balloon
Divide guests into two groups, about 20 feet apart. Have kids pair up and use towels as a slingshot to shoot the water balloons into the other team's zone. Get hit and you're out! Last kid standing wins.
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Game: Water Break
Line kids up in teams and give each a water balloon. Have teammates take turns running across the lawn to sit on their balloon. The first group to pop all of them wins.
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Easy Ice Cream
Dip the edges of mini ice- cream sandwiches into bright colored sprinkles to make this DIY dessert. Add a strip of wax paper and pretty decorative tape to give kids a place to hold their treat.
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Game: Quick Draw
Give a few kids small squirt bottles to use in a game of water tag. If you're sprayed, you're it.
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Game: Ice Breaker
Have children balance a slippery, colored ice cube on a spoon and race across the lawn. First team to the other side wins!
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Towel Decor
A colorful clothesline will help set the scene and provide a place to dry towels between games.
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Swim Swag
For each party guest, personalize a pair of child-size goggles with a splash-shaped tag. $15 for 12; Partypalooza.com
Originally published in the July 2012 issue of Parents magazine.