If you have big kids and reusable water balloons, this activity is for you. It’s simple to set up and encourages gross motor skills, such as tossing and throwing. And with big kids, you can share an idea, and they will RUN WITH IT. Save and Pin Reusable Water Balloon Toss for an easy summer activity to return to. It’s a fun idea for the entire family that will cool everyone down.
Let kids take the lead.
Here’s how this all went down. I thought drawing a target from chalk in the driveway could be fun. I gathered the reusable water balloons out of my pool bag and filled them up.
Then, the boys took over.
There used to be one target, but now there are several. Instead of facing forward, they now add the option to toss facing backward.
This gross motor outdoor activity went from a basic idea to an extraordinary one, all because I took a back seat.
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Wait, so they are learning, too?
Yep! This is a classic example of how kids learn through play. As my eight-year-old tossed, my ten-year-old continued to add on to keep track of his score. As my six-year-old threw the water balloons, he improved accuracy and strengthened his arm muscles.
They also took turns (hello, soft skills) and cheered one another on. (Somewhat, I’ll take what I can get.)
As each child threw the water balloon, they worked on hand-eye coordination and balance.
They are also having fun weaving in their personal touches – which is the ticket to learning!
RELATED: Use this summer bucket list for ideas rather than guessing or Google searching.
Setting up
Again, setting up takes minimal effort because big kids take the lead. It’s kind of like “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff. If you fill the water balloons, they want to toss them. If you let them toss them, they will ask to draw the targets… You know how the story goes!
- Gather reusable water balloons.
- Fill a bucket or tray with water and toss in the reusable water balloons.
- Find an area to create a target with chalk.
- Invite your child to toss the reusable water balloons on the chalk target.
- Let your child take the lead; you may even enjoy some time tossing. I know I did!
RELATED: What life skills are excellent to practice over the summer? I made you a printable list of life skills for big kids here!
Supplies:
There are three main supplies in this post. They are water, reusable water balloons, and chalk. – The MVPs of summer!
I like to use a muffin tin to transport the water balloons to the target area. This is also a great way to show each child how many they have before switching out.
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Reusable Water Balloons
These have been a big hit with my boys and their friends. Small magnets inside each water balloon, so they are advised for kids 8-12.
Sidewalk Chalk
This collection of sidewalk chalk includes 160 pieces.
It’s just water, right?
When used safely, water toys for kids are a massive win for long summer days. Water play can help cool everyone down, break up the long days, and put a smile on everyone’s face.
However, some children do not like getting wet, and water play may not be their favorite activity. If so, I suggest inviting your child to get you wet first and asking if getting them wet in return is okay. With some time and space, your child may join in on the fun.
And if they decide not to, it doesn’t mean they will be a no next time. Different seasons for different kids.
More water play!
Thirsty for more water play ideas for kids? I’ve got them!
I’d love to hear from you. Tell me in the comments your favorite water play idea.
FAQ about water play
Playing with water is a great way for kids of any age to explore their natural curiosities of learning through sensory-motor play. Sensory play helps kids to learn through interactive, hands-on, play-based learning.
Water balloons are made from balloons filled with water, and reusable water balloons are made with plastic and magnets to seal them from leaking.
Water balloons are so versatile. Kids can play different types of friendly games and activities to engage in learning and development. Art, competitions, and counting are some of the activities kids can play.
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