Indianapolis has already seen temperatures above 90 degrees, and it's not even officially summer yet! 2023 is set to be another hot summer, but trying to keep your kids indoors all day long during summer is out of the question. To help the kids (and you) beat the heat, here are three water games that are cool for the summer and fun for everyone.
1. Sponge water bombs
Photo courtesy of Endlessly Inspired
Sponge water bombs are like water balloons but even better because you don't have to spend weeks picking up pieces of rubber from your yard. Better yet - they're easy to make! You'll need some sponges (get different colors to make them fun!), scissors, and rubber bands.
Cut each sponge into four pieces and put the pieces into groups of 12 for each ball. Pinch the pieces together in the middle and wrap the rubber band around the bunch as tightly as possible. Voilà! You now have a sponge water bomb that the kids can dunk in water for hours of fun.
2. DIY slip and slide
You don't have to run to the store to buy an expensive slip and slide to entertain your family. You likely have everything you need to build your own right in your garage. This DIY slip and slide is as easy to make as the sponges, and the result will be awesome. All you need to start is some long plastic and some water!
First, roll out your plastic and ensure it lays flat in your yard. Next, find something to secure the top of the plastic: you can do this easily by wrapping the plastic around a 2x4 and staking it into the ground. Third, go ahead and spray it down with water and make sure it is evenly distributed. Try adding dish soap or tear-free shampoo to give yourself some extra speed. Now it's time for a test run!
3. PVC sprinkler toy
Photo courtesy of Instructables
This summertime water play activity is fun and affordable. Instructables makes it easy to put together after a quick trip to the hardware store. This project is more complicated than the previous two, so it helps if you already have a saw and a power drill at home.
Step 1 - Go shopping
For this project, you’ll need two 10' lengths of PVC pipe, three end caps, one threaded hose connector, two T-connections, and PVC cement.
Step 2 - Gather your tools
You’ll need a power drill, 1/16 or 3/32" inch drill bits, a saw, a measuring tape, and a pen.
Step 3 – Cut the PVC pipe
Turn your two 10’ lengths of PVC pipe into two 5' sections, one 4' section, and four 18" sections.
Step 4 - Glue the pieces together
Dab some glue inside the cap end and stick the caps on. Do this for all 18" pieces except one, which you will add to the threaded hose attachment. Next, join your glued pieces to the T-connectors. Remember that PVC glue dries quickly, so apply it to one piece at a time.
Step 5 - Add the legs
Use your PVC cement to connect the two 5' sections to the feet you made in the previous step, and then add the elbows.
Step 6 - Drill all your holes
Mix up the sizes and positions of your holes to make a fun pattern.
Step 7 - Turn on the water
Once your sprinkler is assembled, connect your hose, get out there, and have fun!
Now that you have three easy projects for summertime water play, we hope you have some fun beating the heat this summer. If you're curious about how to improve your home’s water quality and make it better for your whole family, we can help. Reach out to our team at Advantage Water Conditioning for a soft water assessment today!
If you're curious about the quality of your water and how to improve it for your whole family, we can help. Reach out to our team at Advantage Water Conditioning for a soft water assessment today!
