Right on schedule, Utah is enduring some toasty temps. Those dog-days of summer are here and as the thermometer continues to creep higher and higher, the quest for cooling activities begins. Sure you can escape the heat by going out for dinner and enjoying an evening at the air-conditioned movie theater, but what about those hot Saturday afternoons when the kids are whining to go outside and play?

When the belly aching begins, it’s time to break out the water guns, water balloons and hoses, and let the kids soak up some backyard sun while still managing to cool off. Here are some great ideas for games perfect for kids, adults and families alike. For even more ideas, log on to our Cheap Summer Fun board on Pinterest.

Kids

Once upon a time, a fun sprinkler or two in the backyard was the only entertainment a kid like me needed to cool off during a sweltering afternoon. These days, backyards are being filled with deluxe kiddie pools that feature water slides, pools and even bouncy houses. When you don’t want to invest in those water fun houses, there are dozens of fun, cheap activities that are sure to cool the kids off.

Water balloon fights are always great, but you can mix things up a bit by playing water balloon volleyball as teams of two toss water balloons across the yard to each other using beach towels. With a bunch of plastic cups, kids can line up, single file, and play Pass the Water.

String up a number of red plastic cups and fill up those squirt guns for a fun shooting relay game. Another easy game simply requires a game die and a kiddie pool filled with water. Whoever rolls a 6 gets to splash everyone.

Adults

Relay races are always fun, whether you are 6 or 66, and during the summer those relay races must always include water. Take some inspiration from favorite game shows like “Wipe Out” and “Minute to Win It” when planning out your games.

If you don’t have large obstacles in your backyard, get creative and build some of your own. Large sheets of plastic and cheap pool noodles can easily be transformed into a giant Slip ‘n’ Slide. Or, you can drill holes into a maze of PVC pipe for a great car wash-style water obstacle course.

When you get bored chasing everyone around with Supersoakers, string up large water balloons and create a water piñata station. Just grab a plastic bat and have some fun getting soaked. Water kickball, featuring kiddie pools, sprinklers and a Slip ‘n’ Slide into home, is a classic way to cool down.

Family games

Get the entire family involved in the water game fun. A summertime family water party is the perfect way to cool off during these hot summer days. With just a few supplies, you can create dozens of splash and splash games.

With a few buckets or bowls and some absorbent sponges, you can play a game called Fill the Bucket. Start with one bucket full of water and one that’s empty. Create a relay to see which team can fill the empty bucket quickest using just the sponge.

Another fun relay that is sure to get everyone laughing and produce some great photo ops, too, is the Frozen Shirt relay. Gather up some old T-shirts. Get them wet, ring them out and then toss them in the freezer. Then pit teams together to see who can pull that frozen shirt on the quickest.

– Jennifer Durrant