Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Activities

Marco Polo for kids, in or out of the water

Dawn Miller
By

Marco! Polo! Chances are you’ve played this fun pool game on a warm summer afternoon. The game Marco Polo is a classic. No one is really sure who gets credit for creating it or naming it after the famous 13th-century explorer, but the game first started making its rounds in pools during the 1960s.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

10 minutes

What You Need

  • Pool

  • Participants

  • Parent supervisor

While Marco Polo didn’t make an actual discovery, the Venetian merchant holds his place in history thanks to documenting his travels along the Silk Road in China. Polo coauthored a popular book of his adventures exploring places foreign to Europeans as well as his time in the court of Kublai Khan.

Blind Man’s Bluff

Marco Polo is essentially Blind Man’s Bluff in water. Blind Man’s Bluff was a trendy game in the 16th century. Both games have the same format with one player being “it” and closing their eyes while trying to catch the other participants who give verbal clues as to their location.

The game Marco Polo is played all over the world, but it does go by other names in some areas. It is also known as Mermaid on the Rocks and Alligator in other spots. It’s even moved out of the pool and online, but when summer rolls around and it’s time to hit the pool, you will inevitably hear the familiar call of “Marco!”

How do you play Marco Polo?

The rules on how to play Marco Polo are pretty straightforward. While you can play Marco Polo with two players, the ideal number of players is four to six. “Fish out of water” is a variation of Marco Polo, where one of the participants is caught by Marco trying to sneak out of the pool. Typically, all players stay in the water, though some variations allow the participants one chance to try to slip out of the pool. If a player gets caught exiting the water by Marco, they become the new “it.”

Step 1: One person is designated as “it.”

Step 2: The person tapped as “it” must close their eyes and resist the temptation to peek.

Step 3: They call out “Marco” while the other participants in the game answer with “Polo,” as they move around the pool.

Step 4: The person who is “it” relies on other senses to catch someone.

Step 5: Once caught (or tagged), the person now becomes “it” and the game continues.

Child in a pool with arm floaties

How to keep Marco Polo safe

Since Marco Polo is a game played in water, it's important to follow a few simple rules to keep all the players safe. Keep these rules in mind for your next game of Marco Polo to make sure everyone has fun.

Arguments are inevitable when games involve a group of kids, especially when some of the participants are very competitive. That’s when a ref comes in handy. Remember, Marco Polo is a game that relies on the honor system. “It” should keep their eyes closed the whole time, and the other players should acknowledge when they have been tagged.

Step 1: Before getting into the water, ensure all the participants can swim.

Step 2: Make sure players in need of noodles, floaties, or life jackets have them on before the game starts.

Step 3: If anyone in the group is not a strong swimmer, keep the game out of the deep end.

Step 4: Avoid making younger kids “it.” It'll be frustrating for them to catch anyone and hard for little ones to keep their eyes closed the whole time.

Step 5: Decide before the game starts that all players must stay in the water or if each player is allowed one opportunity to be the “fish out of water.”

Step 6: If the game involves a group of children, have an adult or caregiver serve as a referee/lifeguard.

Step 7: To avoid arguments, the ref has the final say about whether a player has been caught.

Step 8: When “it,” keep the tags light. Try not to grab players, especially those who may not be extremely confident with their water skills.

Kids jumping into a pool

Set a time limit for “it”

The game can get pretty frustrating for the person being “it” if they can’t catch anyone. This is often when tears or fights start when the “it” kid keeps narrowly missing tagging someone. In order to keep the game rolling along with the laughs, set a time limit for each person designated as "it."

Step 1: Designate an adult poolside to keep time.

Step 2: Set a 5- to 10-minute time limit to complete a round if someone hasn't been caught.

Step 3: The person farthest away from “it” becomes the new Marco.

Marco Polo is definitely an exciting pool game for kids and adults. It’s a great way to have a bit of fun in the pool at a party or just with the family. The game has certainly stood the test of time and has even been turned into an amusing advertising campaign, complete with Marco Polo playing his game.

Why Marco Polo’s name became tied to the popular pool game remains unknown, but the Venetian merchant remains etched in history books for more than just his exploration adventures.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
How to make paper snowflakes – a simple guide for a fun winter crafting project
Paper snowflakes won't melt and are easy to make
Hands creating paper snowflakes

Taking down the holiday decorations is always bittersweet. The house just seems a little sad and bare when they're gone. Just because it's January doesn't mean you can't brighten up the house a bit before the Valentine's Day hearts come out. January is perfect for snowflakes, and we don't mean the kind you have to shovel or bundle up to try and catch on your tongue.

Read more
New Year’s resolutions for kids: The reading resolutions your child needs
Here's why reading should be the only New Year's resolution for kids
Five kids reading books on a park bench

Another new year is almost here and with it comes another chance to make a new change. But what about the children? Should parents help come up with New Year's resolutions for kids? Absolutely, and reading is the ticket!

No matter what age your child is, there should be only one resolution on every kid's list, and here's why it should be the love of reading. With the help of expert Stephanie Marquis, product manager at reading.com, an affiliate of teaching.com, we've put together the perfect reading resolution, by age, for your family to stick to this year.

Read more
5 New Year’s resolution ideas for kids that promote healthy habits
Want to keep your New Year's resolutions? Make them together as a family
A person making a list of New Year's resolutions

New Year's resolutions have quite a long track record. The practice of setting goals when welcoming in a new year date all the way back to the ancient Babylonians. Back then, New Year's Day was celebrated in March, not January. The ancient Romans also had a habit of starting a new year with resolutions, as did early Christians. Today, New Year's resolutions aren't necessarily based on religion. Instead, New Year's resolutions are more personal and often involve losing weight, getting the finances in order, and decluttering or organizing the house.

Of course, while lots of people make resolutions at the start of a new year, these goals often fall by the wayside by Valentine's Day. According to the American Psychological Association, the secret to keeping New Year's resolutions is to limit your resolutions to small goals instead of large ones, like losing weight.

Read more