The Best Poolside Snacks for Kids - Cultivating Brilliant Minds

When the sun is shining and the pool is calling, kids need snacks that are quick, refreshing, and easy to enjoy between cannonballs. Whether you’re hosting a pool party or just spending a lazy afternoon by the water, these poolside snacks for kids are perfect for keeping little swimmers fueled and happy.

Poolside Snacks For Kids

Kids need all the extra fuel they can get, especially when they are out in the sun all day. These delicious kid-friendly snacks are perfect to munch on by the pool and keep kids going all day long. Featuring low-mess and easy to eat treats, these snacks will become new poolside favorites that you’ll want to make again and again!

a bowl of popcorn, animal crackers, pretzels, m&ms and gummy bears

Zoo Snack Mix for Kids: Easy Animal-Themed Snack Idea

Make snack time fun at the zoo! Zoo snack mix is portable, kid-friendly, and packed with animal-themed treats for easy on-the-go snacking.

jello cups with red swedish fish in them

One Fish Two Fish Jello Cups: A Dr. Seuss Inspired Snack for Kids

a snack cup of gummy sharks, chex mix, and popcorn

Sea Life Snack Cups: A Simple and Fun Ocean-Themed Treat for Kids

kiwi and grapes cut to look like yertle the turtle

Yertle the Turtle Fruit: Dr. Seuss Inspired Snack for Kids

pudding cups with layered crushed up graham crackers, a gummy bear, and mini drink umbrella

Beach Pudding Cups – ZEN AND HONEY

yogurt dyed blue with crushed up graham crackers, shark gummies and a mini umbrella

Shark Yogurt Cups: A Cool, Creative Ocean Snack for Summer Fun

Looking for a snack that’s as fun to make as it is to eat? These Shark Yogurt Cups are the perfect combination of tasty, hands-on activity and imaginative play. With just a few simple ingredients and no cooking required, this ocean-themed treat is ideal for summer lessons, ocean units, snack time surprises, or even a themed birthday party.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Treats: The Best No-Bake Cereal Bars for a Sweet Snack

a red, white, and blue parfait with strawberries, yogurt, and blueberries

Red, White and Blue Watermelon Parfait

Homemade Gluten-Free + Vegan Goldfish (Allergy-Free, Grain-Free)

very berry cheerios, puffs, yogurt, and strawberries as a snack mix in a jar

Baby Trail Mix

a fruit salad in a bowl that has grapes, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, kiwi, and pineapple

Easy Fruit Salad Recipe

Easy fruit salad recipe! This simple fruit salad is tossed in a sweet citrus dressing for a delicious and easy summer side dish or dessert.

a bag of pretzels with whipped cream and strawberries

Walking Strawberry Pretzel Salad – A No-Bake Summer Dessert in a Bag – Cultivating Brilliant Minds

blueberries and raspberries on top of a sourdough pizza crust

Mini Sourdough Fruit Pizza (with sourdough sugar cookie crust)

Ham and Cheese Pinwheel Sandwiches

How to Make Tropical Fruit Trail Mix

fruit dip with cantaloupe, crackers, pineapple, grapes, and watermelon

Easy Fruit Dip Recipe

This cream cheese fruit dip is perfectly sweet, creamy, and easy to make with just 5 ingredients. An instant upgrade to any fruit platter.

banana bread with colored sprinkles inside

Funfetti Banana Bread – Liv’s Little Muffins

frozen yogurt with granola, raspberries and blueberries

Frozen Yogurt Bark with Fresh Berries and Granola – A Low Sugar Sweet Treat for Healthy Snacking – Surrogacy Mama

Healthy Watermelon Fries

grapes frosted with rainbow colored sugar

Rainbow Frosted Grapes

Poolside Drinks For Kids

There’s nothing like an ice cold drink on hot summer days. These kid-friendly drinks are the perfect way to make sure kids stay hydrated in the sun. I suggest keeping them in a glass or cup with a lid to keep away any wandering bugs and gnats. After all, these drinks are so delicious that everyone wants a taste!

a glass of gatorade with candies and swedish fish inside

Ocean Summer Drink for Kids: A Bright and Refreshing Treat

Make a splash with this ocean summer drink for kids. It’s a fun kid-friendly summer drink layered with Nerds candy, Swedish Fish, and Blue Gatorade.

a watermelon slushie with colored candies along the rim

Kid-Friendly Watermelon Slushies: A Delicious Summer Drink for Kids

tropical fruit punch in a glass with ice

3 Ingredient Tropical Fruit Punch

State Fair Lemonade (Easy 3 Ingredient Fresh-Squeezed Recipe)

watermelon lemonade in a glass with cut lemons and mint

Copycat Chick-fil-A Watermelon Mint Lemonade

Poolside Desserts for Kids

Last, let’s take a look at these delicious poolside desserts. I always gravitate to fun desserts that look as good as they taste. I don’t want a plain cupcake with icing – give me the cutest sunbathing teddy bears on top or turn it into an ocean with sharks. For me, anything is better than boring. From cupcakes to rice krispie treats to snow cones, you’ll find the most unique kid-friendly desserts that won’t last long.

a cupcake with blue icing and teddy graham bears on top

Swimming Bear Cupcakes: A Sweet Splash of Summer Fun

Looking for a summer baking activity that’s fun, adorable, and irresistibly tasty? These Swimming Bear Cupcakes are just the thing. Perfect for an ocean or pool-themed lesson, a summer party treat, or just a creative way to cool down indoors, this cupcake recipe blends imagination and hands-on fun with a refreshing fruity twist. Whether you’re teaching at home, planning a playdate, or looking for a rainy-day kitchen project, these cupcakes are an engaging way to dive into both baking and pretend play.

Get the Recipe

blue jello cups with gummy octopi and sharks and mini drink umbrellas

Make a Splash with Ocean Jello Cups: A Sweet Summer Treat with a Learning Twist

cookies with blue icing and an oreo dipped in red chocolate on top for a crab

Make Beach Crab Cookies: A Creative and Tasty Summer Treat for Kids

a cupcake with blue icing and shark and fish gummies on top

Shark Attack Cupcakes: A Delicious Dive into Ocean-Themed Fun

rice krispie treats with ice cream in the middle and mermaid sprinkles on the outside

Mermaid Rice Krispie Ice Cream Sandwiches: A Magical Summer Treat for Kids

donuts with cinnamon toast crunch cereal on them

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Donuts: The Best Baked Donut Recipe for Breakfast

rice krispies with ice cream on the inside dipped in blue and white sprinkles

Sealife Rice Krispies Ice Cream Sandwiches: A Whimsical No-Bake Summer Dessert

blue jello cups with swedish fish inside

Fish Bowl Jello Cups: A Fun and Colorful Summer Dessert for Kids

Fish bowl Jello cups are a bright, playful, and easy summer dessert that brings a splash of fun to any celebration. With their vibrant colors and whimsical underwater theme, these sweet treats are guaranteed to bring smiles to the table. Serve this summer party dessert at birthday celebrations, backyard BBQs, or simply as a cheerful treat to brighten up an ordinary day.

marshmallows on a stick with chocolate and crushed up graham crackers

S’mores Pops Recipe: A Fun and Easy No-Bake Treat for Kids

Homemade No Churn S’mores Ice Cream

snow cones in a cup that are dyed red white and blue

Snow Cone Oreo Truffles

a frozen banana covered in chocolate with sprinkles and coconut on top

Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas

popsicles with strawberries, blueberries, and kiwi inside

Fruity Coconut Water & Chia Seed Popsicles

Stay hydrated all summer long with these delicious Fruity Coconut Water & Chia Seed Popsicles. Packed with colourful fruits and natural electrolytes, they’re the ultimate healthy, guilt-free treat.

watermelon sorbet in a pan with an ice cream scooper

Homemade Honey Watermelon Sorbet Recipe

popsicles that are red and green to resemble a watermelon

Easy Homemade Watermelon Popsicles – Foodess

frozen strawberry yogurt coated in chocolate

Frozen Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Bites (TikTok Viral Recipe!) – Foodess

a peanut butter ball covered in chocolate

EASY Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls Recipe

fruit roll ups with ice cream in the middle

Fruit Roll-Up with Ice Cream: A Viral Treat That’s Sweet, Cold, and Crunchy

Ready to try the viral sensation that’s sweeping TikTok—and winning over kids one bite at a time? These Fruit Roll-Ups with Ice Cream are an unexpected combination of fruity, creamy, and crunchy that instantly delights the senses. With just two ingredients and three minutes of prep, this fun, fast fruit roll-up snack is perfect for summer afternoons, last-minute dessert cravings, or a treat-after-learning moment at home.

Date Candy

sugar cookies decorated to look like popsicles

Popsicle Sugar Cookies!

frozen bananas covered in yogurt and sprinkles

Easy Banana Yogurt Popsicles- A Healthy Summer Snack

lemon popsicles in a bowl with ice and lemon slices

Easy 3 Ingredient Lemon Popsicles

More summer Fun!

If you’re looking for more summer fun, check out these kid-friendly crafts and activities!

Low Mess Summer Crafts: Summer crafting doesn’t have to be messy! Try some of these fun crafts that don’t require cleaning paint off your kitchen table or sweep up glitter for weeks.

Ocean-Themed Crafts: There’s a reason this blog post was featured in Twinkl – these crafts are so fun and unique that kids of all ages will love them!

Pretend Play Ice Cream Shop: This playdough ice cream shop is not jist any activity that kids get bored with in 5 minutes. They will play forever, making different flavor combinations and serving up some of the best (non-edible) ice cream around.

Flamingo Handprint Craft: This easy handprint craft makes a beautiful keepsake for parents. Kids will love creating a unique flamingo with only paint and markers.

Summer Treats for Kids: These treats are so yummy and will keep kids cool in the summer heat.

Budget-Friendly Summer Crafts: Looking for fun crafts that won’t break the bank? Try these budget-friendly summer crafts that use supplies you already own.

Ocean-Themed Art Projects: Let’s get creative with these adorable ocean-themed art projects. Kids will love creating unique ocean animals!

Summer Art Projects: Want a more summer-y project? These art projects are perfect for summer! They are full of bright, sunny colors, and a whole lot of fun!

Summer Books To Read

The Night Before Summer Vacation

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