101 Cool Pool Games for Children: Fun and Fitness for Swimmers of All Levels

Kim Rodomista
Hunter House (2006)
ISBN 9780897934831
Reviewed by Tammy Petty Conrad for Reader Views (6/07)

It’s summer time and every kid is begging to hang out at the neighborhood pool. As cool as it is, they can sometimes run out of fun things to do before they are ready to return indoors. This is where “101 Cool Pool Games for Children” comes in. You probably remember playing “Marco Polo” from your own childhood. But do you know “Piranha Tag” or “Snatch the Bait?” There is no chance your kids will not have fun and still be safe when you bring this book to the pool along with your snacks and sunscreen.

As a certified fitness instructor, the author, Kim Rodomista, looks at pool time as a healthy way to play and get exercise. She has organized the games in ways to show how many players are involved, what props might be necessary, if there is any physical contact involved and what skill level is required. The appropriate icons are listed with each game. The list is also categorized by whether they are imagination, individual, out-of-the-pool, racing, tag or team games. They are even indexed by group size for your convenience. There are games for every size pool and are appropriate for ages four and older.

I love the idea of the book and can imagine almost as many uses for it as there are games! What if you are planning a pool birthday party and need some activities to keep everyone happy till the cake arrives, or, if you have signed up to be a camp counselor for the summer, or, you are just tired of diving for toys in the pool? Older children will want to thumb through this to pick their own games.

The author has also provided a section with water exercises to keep parents busy once their children are busy with “Underwater Rugby.” As much as I love lounging in the pool, I can’t help but feel slightly decadent. Now I can workout and be redeemed from my laziness, although I’m not sure how funny I’ll look doing the “Popcorn” down the length of the pool and back.

As a future teacher, Rodomista caught my attention with the Albert Einstein quote, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” I find “101 Cool Pool Games for Children” provides the necessary knowledge to pick appropriate and safe pool games and also perks up my imagination when it has been fried by the sun. Now it’s time to dig out my swimsuit and start splashing!

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