Activity Ideas for Health Fair Booth

[Lisa Phillips]

We provide a booth out at local Summer Park Parties promoting water safety. We usually do some type of activity/game that kids can play that solidifies the water safety message, while being fun enough to draw them to our booth. We are looking for new ideas, any suggestions?

[Chriss Kuykendall]

What kind of activities do you do? I have quite a few different ones that we do for local expos, would love to share but don't want to duplicate what you already do.

[Lisa Phillips]

Last year we attempted to tie the game in to water safety more, so we had a bunch of balls (ball pit type) with "Whale Tales" water safety sticker on each ball. Kid would choose a ball out of the kiddie pool and then have to point out on the posters which water safety lesson was being demonstrated. Older kids we could discuss more, younger we would talk basic stuff like no swimming without an adult.

In the past all of the activities have not really related to water safety, just ball tosses, ring throwing, etc. Really looking for some games that can be directly tied in to water safety. Any suggestions you have may help trigger ideas, so please share.

[Chriss Kuykendall]

Sounds like a great idea.
We have had the kids do throwing rescues on land, talking about various things they could use that they might have on a picnic (I take milk jugs on a rope for them to use, but carry other things as well).
I made a water safety bingo game that the kids like to play, I can send the digital file if you would like it.
We do a lifejacket demo using various sizes from too small, too big and just right. We make it fun by having three people put on the lifejackets and then talk about why we would or would not wear each one.
I use a dry kiddie pool and put my "baby Chrissy" doll in it with a few toys. We talk about what is wrong with the situation, we add a lifejacket (right size), a buddy, a lifeguard or other adult. The kids seem to enjoy this.
I would love to hear what others do as well. I have some expos coming up in the next couple of months and like to add new things.

[Lisa Phillips]

All of these are great ideas Chris! I would definitely like the bingo game, thanks! I am going to try to implement some of these ideas at the summer park parties. Thanks for the suggestions!

[Chriss Kuykendall]

Sounds like a great idea.
We have had the kids do throwing rescues on land, talking about various things they could use that they might have on a picnic (I take milk jugs on a rope for them to use, but carry other things as well).
I made a water safety bingo game that the kids like to play, I can send the digital file if you would like it.
We do a lifejacket demo using various sizes from too small, too big and just right. We make it fun by having three people put on the lifejackets and then talk about why we would or would not wear each one.
I use a dry kiddie pool and put my "baby Chrissy" doll in it with a few toys. We talk about what is wrong with the situation, we add a lifejacket (right size), a buddy, a lifeguard or other adult. The kids seem to enjoy this.
I would love to hear what others do as well. I have some expos coming up in the next couple of months and like to add new things.