Water Tarp Game
This one DIY Water Tarp Game will keep the kids busy with backyard summer water activities for hours! Play Water Balloon games, Water Bomb Target competitions, Pool Noodle Sword Fighting, Slip and Slide surface and even use the Target Backdrop as a Photo spot!
Wondering how to keep the kids occupied all summer long? We have partnered with some savvy blogging Mom’s and Grandma’s to bring you a collection of summer fun ideas to do with kids of all ages from Pre K up to those precious teens. Be sure to scroll all the way down for even more ideas!
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Also See Our Luau Party Ideas where we share more Outdoor Games!
Supplies for Making A Water Tarp Game
- 5 Tarps 5 ft x 7 ft.
- Badminton net poles (tent poles might work too)
- Duck Tape
- Plastic Tarp Stakes
- Box Cutter
- Scissors
I have exactly one picture of how this water tarp game is put together. Sometimes we get busy building things and forget to snap pictures. In this case the pictures predate dinosaurs and couldn’t be found. We made this game quite a few years ago and for some extremely weird reason it had never been shared on the blog. Some of the children seen playing are now teenagers. No joke!
Printable Instructions available at the bottom of this post
Making the Tarp Target Backdrop
First, lay out the tarp which is going to be the Target Backdrop. You will need a nice big area for your work space.
Place an old torn apart box underneath the spot you will be working to act as your cutting board.
Draw out your shapes of choice to become the Target.
Then cut them open using the Box Cutter to get the hole started then the scissors to finish.
Duck Tape the inner area of each hole. The tape will serve to both draw attention to that hole and reinforce the tarp.
Add point values underneath each hole using different colors of Duck Tape. Three holes is plenty as too many holes will weaken the tarp too much.
Once all your target holes are complete you are ready to attach the Backdrop to the poles.
Roll the ends of the tarp around each pole and secure in place with more Duck tape as shown in photo above.
Now for the fun part, go put your tarp target into the ground!
Printable Instructions available at the bottom of this post
How To Make The Water Tarp Game Playing Surface
This is the surface area fondly referred to by summer fun lovers of all ages as a homemade slip and slide surface.
Lay out all 4 remaining tarps on the ground close to the backdrop.
Secure the tarps together with Duck Tape.
Use Plastic Tarp Stakes to secure the four corners into the ground
Time to let the fun begin!
Wet the surface with the water hose. Cover the tarp surface with lots of dish soap, be generous.
Turn on the sprinkler and let the fun begin!
Water Game Supplies
- Water Balloons
- Pool Noodles
- Water Bomb Balls
- Dish Soap
- Water Sprinkler
- Large plastic Bucket filled with water
Games To Play on A Water Tarp Game
- Water Balloon Dodge Ball (Just like Dodge Ball except with water balloons)
- Pool Noodle Sword Fight
- Water Relay Races (Have 2 Buckets full of water, one for each team. Give each team a Tablespoon to carry water from their bucket to a container, such as a plastic tea pitcher, at the other end of the wet slippery tarp. First team to fill their pitcher wins. Be sure the tarp is very slippery with dish soap.
- Slip and Slide
- Water Bomb Target Competitions (Toss the water bombs through the targets. Whoever gets highest score wins)
- Pool Noodle Toss (add up points for tossing the Pool noodle through the target holes.)
- Use the Target Backdrop for Photos
Pool Noodle Target Practice
The Pool Noodle Target Practice Game is super easy to make as well.
- 8 Pool Noodles
- Duck Tape
- 2 PVC pipes
Wrap 6 pool noodles into a circle and secure with Duck Tape.
Insert the 2 PVC pipes into the ground and slide the remaining 2 Pool Noodles onto them.
Use Duck tape to tie all of the round noodles together as shown.
The boys had fun throwing pool noodles like spears and trying to rind the targets.
Printable Instructions available at the bottom of this post
KEEP SCROLLING for More Summer Activities Ideas ⇓⇓⇓
~~~Follow Our SUMMER FUN Pinterest Board~~~
Now, let’s see what else we can add to our Summer Activities list! Scroll down for new ideas being added every day this week! Pin this post or share it on Facebook and check back every day this week for new ideas.
Monday
21 Fun Summer Activities To Enjoy With The Grandkids @An Alli Event
Swing Painting Activity @Glitter On A Dime
Kids Make Dinner @That Fit Fam
Tuesday
Water Tarp Game @Intelligent Domestications
Toilet Paper Butterfly Craft with Washi Tape @Cookies, Coffee & Crafts
Easy Outdoor Flying Disc Game @DIY Adulation
Wednesday
Cousin Carnival Polka Dot Poplars
Thursday
106 Kids Activities for Summer Break Creative Ramblings
Outdoor Bubble Station @Cookies, Coffee and Crafts
Pool Noodle Sprinkler Fun @Our Good Life
Friday
Butterfly Feeder Craft for Kids @Glitter On A Dime
DIY Tic Tac Toe Game for Kids @My Family Thyme
Water Tarp Game
This one DIY Water Tarp Game will keep the kids busy with backyard summer water activities for hours! Play Water Balloon games, Water Bomb Target competitions, Pool Noodle Sword Fighting, Slip and Slide surface and even use the Target Backdrop as a Photo spot!
Materials
- 5 Tarps (5x7)
- Badminton Net Poles (Tent Poles might work also)
- Duck Tape in Summer colors
- Plastic Tarp Stakes
Tools
- Box Cutter
- Scissors
Instructions
- First, lay out the tarp which is going to be the Target Backdrop. You will need a nice big area for your work space.
- Place an old torn apart box underneath the spot you will be working to act as your cutting board.
- Draw out your shapes of choice to become the Target.
- Then cut them open using the Box Cutter to get the hole started then the scissors to finish.
- Duck Tape the inner area of each hole. The tape will serve to both draw attention to that hole and reinforce the tarp.
- Add point value numbers using different colors of Duck Tape.
- Roll the ends of the tarp around each pole and secure in place with more Duck tape
- Install into the ground in your backyard for playing
HOW TO MAKE THE WATER TARP PLAYING SURFACE
- Lay out all 4 remaining tarps on the ground close to the backdrop.
- Secure the tarps together with Duck Tape.
- Use Plastic Tarp Stakes to secure the four corners into the ground
Oh my goodness, that looks like so much fun!! We would be the favorite house of the neighborhood for sure!
Forget the kids, I want to play this on a hot summer day! This looks like so much fun, who doesn’t love a slip and slide. Homemade games are so much fun!
wow this is amazing! my kids would LOVE this!
My son and his friends would go crazy for this! This looks like so much fun!
We would have a blast with this summer. What a great way to cool down and have fun at the same time! Definitely need to make one of these for the backyard this year.