GOT POOL GAMES?
When the sun is hot, water is the place to be. Kids in water are natural. Water is also a medium that is perfect for experimenting 
[1]with basic motor and social skills by putting a new twist on the use of inexpensive swim equipment: the foam noodle and the child-size inner tube.
Noodle Games
Riding the Horse Noodles
Riding a noodle is like riding a horse except ten billion times easier. It helps kids work on their sense of balance while having the fun of pretending.
Place a noodle between the child’s legs so that he is sitting in the middle of the noodle and holding on to the top half with both hands. An adult can sit on the same noodle and ride together or have a separate “horse”.
Explain or show your rider how to make the Noodle Horse go by paddling their feet so they move forward in the water. If you pretend to be racing each other, don’t forget the requisite yells of “Giddy up” and “Yippee!”
Related: Social Games in Shallow Water [2]
[3]
London Bridge
The bridge is made from two noodles. Two people hold the ends of both noodles to form a bridge between them. Start with the noodles arched to form a high bridge.
Sing the traditional London Bridge song (with a change at the end from “ladies” to “children”)
LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN
FALLING DOWN
FALLING DOWN
LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN
MY FAIR CHILDREN (INSTEAD OF MY FAIR LADIES)
TAKE THE KEY AND LOCK THEM UP
LOCK THEM UP
TAKE THE KEY AND LOCK THEM UP
MY FAIR CHILDREN
On the verse that starts with “Take the key”, catch one or more children between the two noodles and move them back and forth until the end of the verse. You can modify the movement to fit the age, temperament and skill level of the child. Move the noodles quickly from side to side if your kids want that excitement or melodically slow for 
[4]others who prefer the easy ride. You can add the variation of catching more than one child at a time and sometimes catch all the children at the same time!
Later, if you want to add the challenge of kids swimming under water, lower the bridge from its arch to being parallel to the water.
Change the words of the song to:
LONDON BRIDGE IS
WAY WAY DOWN
WAY WAY DOWN
WAY WAY DOWN ETC.
[5]
Inner Tube Games
Ball in the Hole
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An inner tube floating in the water is the target. The size of the ball they throw depends on the child. A tennis, or, plastic ball works; a beach ball works well especially if it has some water inside it to keep it from floating away. The water adds a bit of a spin to the ball.
If the kids are in a circle around the ball, they can take turns and cheer each other on. If needed, the tube can also be brought closer to increase success.
You can add variation to this game by putting a floating object such as sponge or rubber ducky in the middle of the circle that children have to dunk by hitting it with the ball.
Throwing Through the Tube
Hold the tube vertically and have children throw a ball, or any small water toy, through to the other side. Throwing through a tube helps kids’ eye-hand coordination by giving them a narrower focus on where to throw and thereby making it easier to hit one’s mark. . Children new at throwing will often throw the ball every which way. The hole in the tube gives them a defined direction. Another child, who’s good at catching, can be on the other side of the tube to catch the objects.
Where Did They Go?
Stack three tubes up and have the kids throw balls and/or water toys (the more, the better) into the tube while they sing to the tune of “London Bridge”
Throw the balls into the tube, into the tubes, into the tubes
Throw the ball into the tubes, where did the balls go?
Then lift up the top tube and say, “are they here”?
Nooooo
Then, lift the second tube and say . “Are they here?”
[7]
Nooooo
Then, lift the last tube and all the toys and balls are gloriously floating there and you say, “They’re here!”
Now, this game won’t fool anyone. Kids figure it out right away, but if your experience is like mine, they will still want to play it again and again.
Barbara Sher M.A.,O.T.R, an occupational therapist and author of nine books on childrens games. Titles include EARLY INTERVENTION GAMES SPIRIT GAMES and EXTRAORDINARY PLAY WITH ORDINARY THINGS. Send request for workshops to [email protected] or www.gameslady.com [8]
[9]
images © popofatticus /flickr.com
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- Summer Time: Pools, Sun, Fun, Relaxing and No School! [11]
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- Ask the Clinician? How Can I Get My Child with Special Needs Comfortable with the Pool in My Backyard? [13]
- 4 Tips for Managing Parties and Social Gatherings this Summer [14]
- Social Games in Shallow Water [2]
More Outdoor Activities
- Summer Travel & Outdoor Fun with Apps [15]
- 10 Places That Offer Special Days for Special Needs [16]
- Picnic in the Garden: Sensory Play and Sensory Foods for the Outdoors [17]
- 5 Great Opportunities for Outdoor Activity [18]
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- Cool Rules: Preventing Heat Stress In Special Needs Children [20]
- Free Access Pass to America the Beautiful [21]
- Top 5 Children’s Museums That Are Fun for Everyone! [22]
- A to Zoo Accessibility at KidZooU Hamilton Family Children’s Zoo & Faris Family Education Center [23]
As seen in our May/June 2013 [24] issue
[24]
Subscribe to Parenting Special Needs Magazine [25]