The heat of summer is the perfect opportunity to take to the water to cool down. Break out the swim suits, iced drinks and inflatable toys and it is time to have a little fun in the sun. There are many great pool party games for kids that are sure to keep the young folk laughing, splashing and having a blast.

Water and children are as natural a combination as cookies and milk. Beginning as toddlers in a tub, they quickly learn to splash around and enjoy the fun of sloshing and swimming. Having some group play with their friends encourages team work and cooperation all while having an amazing time laughing and being young.

The old time classics are still some of the favorites in many pools today. It is almost a rite of passage to play a game of Marco Polo when growing up and many still enjoy it as adults. It is always a thrill to respond "Polo!" to the unsighted it-person's "Marco!" while racing around and trying to avoid being tagged.

An even more thrilling water game that is actually better suited for older children and teens is chicken fighting. It requires everyone to split off into pairs with one person sitting on the shoulders of their partner. At the starting signal those on top try to pull each other off the bottoms and the last team standing takes the victory.

The game of whirlpool requires everyone to work together is better suited for mid sized rounded pools of steady depth than larger ones. Get all of the children moving around the enclosure in the same direction, starting slowly and gradually getting faster and faster. Soon enough they will be moving with enough speed that the water will take over, at which point they all just raise their legs and ride the flow.

Water jousting is an energetic competition that requires balance and dexterity and can be played as teams or individual elimination rounds. Players use rafts as their virtual horses and pool noodles as their lances. They meet in the center and attempt to knock each other off of their seats with a goal to be the last one still riding and take away a victory.

Rafts and air filled inner tubes are also great vehicles for a variety of relay races. In one version, everyone splits into two teams, dividing each in half and going to opposite ends of the course. The first players from each group mount the inflatables and paddle as fast as possible to their teammate waiting on the other side, switch places and repeat this until everyone has crossed the water and those who complete the task the quickest are the victors.

Entertaining the children during the heated summer days is actually quite an easy process. Allowing them to gather together to partake of some classic pool party games for kids is a great option. The old favorites are still as much fun as they always were, especially when some new innovative twists are added.