Swimming & Water Games Hub
Welcome to our inclusive collection of swimming and water games for children and adults of all abilities.
Discover fun swimming pool activities, accessible water-play challenges and interactive online games designed to encourage confidence, movement, learning and participation.
Explore eight free interactive water-themed games that can be enjoyed from home, school or anywhere with a suitable device.
Everyone Can Make a Splash!Inclusive Swimming and Water Games for Everyone
Swimming and water play can offer wonderful opportunities for people with disabilities to enjoy movement, recreation and social connection.
Water supports the body differently from movement on land. For some people, this can make certain movements more comfortable or achievable with appropriate support.
At Inclusive Education NZ, we believe everyone deserves opportunities to learn, play, explore and experience the enjoyment of being included.
Our Swimming & Water Games Hub combines eight real-world swimming pool activities with eight interactive online games. Children who cannot access a swimming pool can still enjoy the digital learning activities.
Who Can Enjoy These Activities?
These activities are designed to be adaptable for wheelchair users, people with physical disabilities, autistic children, people with sensory differences, children with learning disabilities and anyone who enjoys water play.
Participation can include independent movement, supported movement, communication, decision-making and teamwork. Every contribution matters.
Benefits of Inclusive Swimming and Water Play
Movement and Coordination
Adapted aquatic activities can encourage comfortable movement, reaching and coordination at each person's own pace.
Confidence and Independence
Positive experiences can help participants build confidence and develop familiarity with the water.
Social Inclusion
Games provide opportunities for friendship, cooperation, communication and shared fun.
Sensory Exploration
Water offers different sensations, sounds and movement experiences that can be adapted to individual preferences.
Learning Through Play
Colours, numbers, patterns and problem-solving can all be included in enjoyable water games.
Enjoyment and Wellbeing
Recreational water activities can provide opportunities for relaxation, enjoyment and a sense of achievement.
Explore Our Eight Swimming and Water Games
Each activity includes a real-world swimming pool challenge and a matching interactive online game. Activities can be modified to suit different abilities, preferences and support needs.
Splash Ball Challenge
Collect colourful floating balls and move them towards matching targets.
Swimming Pool Activity
- Place brightly coloured floating balls in a supervised activity area.
- Provide matching floating baskets or targets.
- Players collect or guide balls towards their matching colours.
- Celebrate teamwork, participation and successful matches.
Inclusive Adaptations
Players can use one hand, both hands, adapted reaching equipment or assistance. A participant can also direct a helper to move the balls.
Tap or select colourful floating balls and match them to the correct targets.
▶ Play Splash Ball ChallengeFloating Treasure Hunt
Explore the water and discover colourful floating treasures.
Swimming Pool Activity
- Place suitable floating objects in an accessible activity area.
- Ask players to find particular colours, shapes or numbers.
- Collect objects individually or as a team.
- Count the treasures together.
Inclusive Adaptations
Keep all treasures floating at the surface. Participants can point, communicate their choices or receive physical assistance.
Search a colourful digital swimming pool for floating treasures.
▶ Play Floating Treasure HuntOcean Adventure Trail
Follow an imaginative aquatic adventure through a series of accessible checkpoints.
Swimming Pool Activity
- Create a short route using floating markers.
- Assign each checkpoint a colour or ocean animal.
- Players travel between checkpoints using their preferred supported movement.
- Complete a simple challenge at each location.
Inclusive Adaptations
Use short distances, flexible routes and suitable support. Players can direct a partner rather than travel between checkpoints themselves.
Guide an ocean explorer through colourful checkpoints and challenges.
▶ Play Ocean Adventure TrailWave Makers
Make gentle waves and move floating boats towards a finish line.
Swimming Pool Activity
- Place lightweight floating boats in a designated area.
- Use gentle hand movements to create small waves.
- Guide the boats towards a floating finish marker.
- Play cooperatively or take turns.
Inclusive Adaptations
Players can use small movements, supported arm movements or direct a helper. Avoid forceful splashing and keep water away from faces.
Create gentle digital waves to guide boats towards their destination.
▶ Play Wave MakersRainbow Ring Challenge
Match colourful floating rings to their correct destinations.
Swimming Pool Activity
- Provide large, soft floating rings.
- Set up clearly marked colour-matching stations.
- Move or pass each ring to the correct station.
- Try different colour sequences and patterns.
Inclusive Adaptations
Use large, easy-to-reach equipment. Players can work with a partner, point to colours or give instructions.
Match floating rainbow rings by colour, number or pattern.
▶ Play Rainbow Ring ChallengeOcean Animal Rescue
Help friendly floating ocean animals reach their safe destinations.
Swimming Pool Activity
- Place suitable floating toy sea animals in the activity area.
- Choose a rescue station for each animal.
- Players guide or carry animals to safety.
- Learn animal names and practise teamwork.
Inclusive Adaptations
Use lightweight, easy-grip toys. Players may collect, point to, identify or direct the rescue of each animal.
Rescue friendly digital sea creatures through accessible puzzles and matching challenges.
▶ Play Ocean Animal RescueFloating Numbers Challenge
Turn swimming pool activities into fun opportunities for maths learning.
Swimming Pool Activity
- Use large floating number cards or numbered objects.
- Ask players to identify a number.
- Collect numbers in order or solve simple sums.
- Celebrate correct answers and effort.
Inclusive Adaptations
Offer spoken instructions, visual number cards and additional time. Players can answer verbally, by pointing or using communication equipment.
Solve counting, addition and number-matching puzzles using floating numbers.
▶ Play Floating Numbers ChallengeSplashAbility Team Challenge
Bring everyone together for a cooperative water-play adventure.
Swimming Pool Activity
- Create several accessible activity stations.
- Include colour matching, floating balls and ocean animal games.
- Allow players to choose how they participate.
- Work together to complete the challenge.
Inclusive Adaptations
Offer flexible roles including moving equipment, making decisions, communicating instructions, counting scores and encouraging teammates.
Complete a series of inclusive mini-games and celebrate your participation and achievements.
▶ Play SplashAbility Team ChallengeInteractive Online Swimming and Water Games
Not everyone can access a swimming pool. Physical access barriers, transport, health considerations, sensory needs and financial circumstances can make swimming difficult for some families.
That is why we have developed online versions of our swimming and water games, giving more children opportunities to participate in enjoyable learning.
Accessible Digital Water Adventures
Our eight interactive games offer colourful aquatic challenges that can be enjoyed from home, school or anywhere with a suitable device.
The games are designed with inclusive features such as touch controls, keyboard accessibility, clear instructions, adjustable difficulty, optional sound and opportunities for untimed play. Available options vary by game.
Explore the eight game cards above, choose an activity and select its Play Game button to begin.
The SplashAbility Inclusive Water Challenge
Imagine schools, swimming clubs, families and disability organisations across New Zealand joining together to celebrate inclusive water play.
The SplashAbility Challenge is our concept for connecting physical swimming pool activities with accessible online games.
Pool Challenges
Take part in supervised and adapted swimming pool activities with friends, family or classmates.
Online Challenges
Enjoy interactive games using a computer, tablet or mobile device.
Celebrate Everyone
Recognise participation, cooperation, confidence and personal achievement rather than simply speed or competition.
Every Ability. Every Contribution. Every Splash.
Our long-term vision is to encourage inclusive participation and create opportunities for everyone to enjoy water-based activities.
Making Swimming and Water Games Accessible
Inclusive swimming begins with recognising that everyone has different abilities, needs and preferences.
Accessible Pool Facilities
Swimming facilities should consider step-free access, appropriate pool entry equipment, accessible changing facilities, toilets and suitable support arrangements.
Flexible Participation
Participants should be able to choose between independent activity, supported activity, teamwork and communication-based roles.
Sensory-Friendly Experiences
Offer quieter sessions where possible, clear visual instructions, predictable routines and alternatives to noisy or unexpected splashing.
Respecting Individual Needs
Never assume that a person cannot participate because of a disability. Ask what support or adaptations would make the experience enjoyable and appropriate for them.
Swimming Pool Safety Comes First
Swimming and water games must always be planned around participant safety, ability, supervision and the rules of the swimming facility.
Important Water Safety Guidelines
- Always provide active, appropriate adult supervision for children. Keep young children within arm's reach in and around water.
- Follow all pool rules and instructions from lifeguards and qualified swimming instructors.
- Check individual support needs, medical considerations and emergency arrangements before participating.
- Use suitable accessible entry and exit equipment where required.
- Choose water depths and activities appropriate to each participant.
- Use safe, pool-approved equipment. Floating toys and pool noodles are not substitutes for supervision or approved safety equipment.
- Never require participants to submerge, hold their breath, race or perform movements beyond their abilities.
- Stop an activity if someone becomes distressed, fatigued, uncomfortable or unwell.
- Ensure participants with complex mobility, respiratory or other support needs have an individually appropriate safety plan.
Important: These activities are recreational ideas, not swimming instruction, medical treatment or aquatic therapy. Seek appropriate professional guidance where needed.
Learn more from Water Safety New Zealand .
Explore More Inclusive Learning Activities
Continue exploring our collection of accessible games, educational activities and inclusive learning resources.
Further Information About Accessible Aquatic Recreation
Creating inclusive swimming opportunities also requires accessible facilities, welcoming environments and an understanding of disability inclusion.
Recreation Aotearoa provides information and resources about recreation, inclusion and accessible participation in New Zealand.