Water Birthday Party

Pump up the playlist while kids dash and dance through a sea of sprinklers. When the music stops everyone must freeze!

A bucket of water balloons is all kids need to have a splashing good time with these game:

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.

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.

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.

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.

Give a few kids small squirt bottles to use in a game of water tag. If you're sprayed, you're it.

Have children balance a slippery, colored ice cube on a spoon and race across the lawn. First team to the other side wins!

A colorful clothesline will help set the scene and provide a place to dry towels between games.

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.