Water Works

Beat the heat on a hot summer day with these toddler-friendly kiddie-pool games. (Remember to supervise children near water.)

Hole in One

Ages: 2 and up
Here's a splashy way to get your tot to practice her aim. Float upside-down flying disks in the pool, then take turns trying to toss a sponge inside the rims. Every time a sponge goes in, take a step back and try again.

Fishing for Color

Ages: 2 and up
Help your child develop her hand-eye coordination with this simple "catch and release" challenge. First, tint 3-1/2 cups of water with food coloring, then pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze it. To play, dump the colored ice cubes into a kiddie pool. Have your tot scoop up the cubes with a small bucket and transfer them to another container. Once she gets the hang of it, she can try transferring the cubes with a shovel or spoon. (For more than one player, freeze two trays of different hues.)

Sink or Float

Ages: 3 and up
Gather up a handful of waterproof toys and household items, then ask your preschooler to predict whether an object will sink or float (be sure to ask why) before she throws it into the water. She may not understand concepts like density just yet, but she'll get a kick out of seeing what will and won't bob in her pool.