Extra credit
Octopus Relay
Each team gets an "octopus" — poke lots of holes in the side of a plastic soda bottle and cut the top off, covering any sharp edges with duct tape. You'll also need buckets — same size for each team. Set up an obstacle course with chairs, toys, a sprinkler — anything handy. Each team fills its octopus in the pool, runs through the course, and dumps into its bucket whatever water hasn't streamed out. The first team to fill its bucket wins. Our kids were so excited by this game, they started running before we placed the obstacles.

Wading Pool Tips
A typical 5-foot wading pool can usually entertain three kids. If you've got a crowd, use two pools.

No matter how hard you discourage it, little kids will want to drink the pool water and suck on sponges. Keeping drinking water on hand may offset some of that.

Most important, remember that even in shallow pools, children need constant supervision.

Senior associate editor Nathaniel Reade says you should have seen his sons, Henry, 6, and Charley, 2, playing octopus in the bathtub with their swim goggles on.