If you’ve never had the pleasure of dunking the Severus Snape of your childhood in a dunk tank, I highly recommend it.
Full dunk tanks are a little hard to come by, though, so the 4.5-foot Kaos Splash Tank, from Imperial Toy, is a fun, functional, and affordable alternative. Designed for kids ages 8 and up, the set comes with everything you need to put it together and it only takes about 10 minutes, so it’s easily rebuildable before every use if storage space is an issue.
At least two kids are needed to play, but since it’s a game that can be played by taking turns, there’s no limit to the number of participants. One player sits at the base of the splash tank as everyone else takes turns aiming the included Aqua Splashers balls at the target. Once the target is hit, 2.5 liters of water come tumbling down. This is the perfect game for families who want a little outdoor fun and active relief from the sun but don’t have a pool. You don’t even need a hose—a large bucket of water will do the trick.
The great thing about the Splash Tank is its versatility. Kids can make up their own rules on how to play, create a system for turn-taking, and even experiment with different ways to hit the target. Maybe they want to try hitting it with a Super Soaker. Games with few rules are great to expand kids’ creativity and get them thinking outside of the box. It teaches them leadership skills and independent thinking, which they’ll use for the rest of their lives. So, not only are they getting outside of the house and away from Netflix, but they’re also developing communication skills and working through trial and error toward a fun goal. Parents, don’t be shy! Unless you’re really tall, you can fit under the dunk tank, too.
It’s time to send a summer invite to that geometry teacher from the 10th grade that you couldn’t stand for a “truce.”
