Two children sliding through sprinkler arcs on a backyard slip-and-slide under a big summer sun.

Backyard Slip-and-Slide Sprinkler Splash

Two laughing kids zoom down a backyard slip-and-slide while hose water leaps in tall arcs across the sunny grass.

🎨 How to color it

Use sky blue for the spraying water, bright yellow for the round sun, lime green for the grass, and cheerful red and orange for the kids’ shirts. For little hands, try chunky crayons on the big slide, sun, and lawn areas, and let the splash lines stay wiggly. Add extra fun by making the water arcs two blues, with darker blue at the hose and lighter blue near the laughing sliders.

The story behind this coloring page

Why Sprinklers Jump Sideways — Psst—Willa made a game called Toe-Tap Splash. She wanted to tap one wet toe, then slide. Read the full story →

Psst—Willa made a game called Toe-Tap Splash. She wanted to tap one wet toe, then slide. The grass smelled warm, and the hose went shhh-shhh. But the water stood straight up like a tall, tickly wall.

Willa held her breath. “Tiny slide first,” she whispered. Zoom! Her foot bumped the hose, and the sprinkler bent sideways—whoosh! Her brother cheered, slap-slap, into the puddles. Ever since, backyard sprinklers jump sideways to help brave toes go first. Can you spot the hose that learned Willa’s secret?