This is how to play cool games and make fun summer crafts using foam pool noodles. You and your kids will have so much fun with these pool noodle activities, decorating, preschool learning tools, and all of the amazing pool noodle games you can play!
Pool noodles can be purchased at the Dollar Store and therefore are a really cheap way to entertain your kids and the neighbor kids this summer!
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DIY Pool Noodle Decorating Crafts
Pool noodles come in an array of colors, and can be shaped and cut into different pieces. Let your imagination run wild and create beautiful crafts.
1. How to make an adorable summer wreath out of a pool noodle, fabric, and some felt by Fox Hollow Cottage.
2. This project by Dollar Store Mom is so simple, and really adds such a bright and playful element to your outdoor decor- plus its weather-proof!
3. How to turn a pair of noodles into some nifty room decor by Makezine and make these darling pool noodle wall flower garland.
4. Cut pool noodles into flowers with a kitchen knife and then attach to some straws for a fun little table decor, preschool play group snack, or just for fun by Obsessively Stitching. Classy drinks can turn into fun activities with this craft.
5. Create a bouquet of flowers for Mother’s Day, or any occasion with this tutorial by No Time for Flash Cards. Write on each leaf something your child says they like about mom.
6. This headboard by Design Dazzle was created using several of them stacked on top of one another. Check out the dollar stores during the summer and you can create this headboard for cheap.
7. A chair and ottoman by Design Milk is made entirely of foam noodle-like tubes, like the ones kids play with in a pool.
8. You can easily transform round pool noodles into mint decorations with just some fishing line and ribbon. Now you have a cute pool noodle candy cane. *Update: blog link is no longer available. Here’s another tutorial from WikiHow to make the pool noodle candy canes.
Cool Pool Noodle Games & Backyard Sports
No need to go to the pool or beach! Cool pool games & backyard sports to stay cool this summer in your backyard, park, or even at school. You’ll surely enjoy these minute to win it games with pool noodles!
9. How to make a target station from Parents by joining rings into colorful targets for flying disks, soccer balls, javelin throws and more. Stakes keep the target upright. More fun activities coming up!
10. Want more fun activities with pool noodles? Duct-tape six rings to one another, then tape them to thicker (3 1/2-inch-wide) hollow pool noodle posts to make this agility jump by Parents. You don’t need a javelin to make this super fun activity.
11. Here are some fun activities you can do with kids. How to make a fun outdoor game using pool noodles, like this fun noodle course hoop jump by Tip Junkie. You can use them to jump over, crawl under, or as wickets for crochet or soccer games. As we know, there are more things to make than just pool noodle candy cane.
12. Cut a few swimming noodles in two, so that you have one half for each player. Scatter 20 or so blown-up balloons on the ground around a laundry basket for a fun summer game by Parents. Such a fun minute to win it games with pool noodles! Be careful not to throw a pool noodle javelin at each other.
Pool Noodle Activities for Kids
These pool noodle activities are fun for kids and adults alike. Not to mention easy to setup and inexpensive. Use the pool noodle for these fun activities with kids.
13. How to create a number game for preschoolers by Planet of the Apels. It works on number recognition and one-to-one correspondence!
14. This is a great activity by My Little Gems that’s perfect for pre-schoolers and even kindergarteners. In fact, it is going to be one of my centers in pre-school this year. It is a great way to practice patterns.
15. Depending on the skills you’d like to work on with your tot, use a permanent marker to write on the pieces. Totally Tots made an ABC set and Numbers 1-20 set. You could also leave some blank and use them for patterns.
Games to play:
- Lace the “giant” beads on a piece of the clothesline or rope. (Motor Skills)
- Lace the beads in ABC order. (Motor skills & Literacy)
- Lace the beads in Number order. (Motor skills & Math)
- Lace the beads to spell words or names. (Motor skills & Literacy)
16. Make noodle chain links by Teach Preschool. The children made long and short chains and one little boy put his together to make a motorcycle. This looks like a colorful chain of pool noodle candy cane!
17. My kids love this activity. They will race marbles for hours. It’s a perfect indoor activity for a rainy day or can be taken outside so you can enjoy some sunshine. I hope you’ll give it a try and have as much fun with it as we have! *Update: blog link is no longer available.
Here’s another pool noodle race track tutorial from Ramblings from Utopia.
Pool Noodle Summer Fun
Even if you don’t know how to swim or don’t have access to a pool, you can still have fun with a pool noodle. You don’t need to play minute to win it games with pool noodles with the little kids. Here are some pool noodle activities to engage your family or an activity group.
18. These are not for javelin throws. The pool noodles by Heather Sitarzewski were decorated with crepe streamers (it’s what I had on hand, although in hind sight I wish I had used the colored duct tape.
19. Kids can practice their placekicking — and increase the challenge as their aim improves — with this adjustable goalpost made with these pool noodle games. *Update: blog link is no longer available.
20. This real-life Harry Potter Quidditch tournament by Savage Earth is made with pool noodles as the broomsticks, the orange nerf ball is the quaffle, and the two small red ones are bludgers, and hula hoops for the goals.
Pool Noodle Crafts
Pool noodles are a quick and cheap way to create simple toys and games for children. Here are some ideas for making the most of your pool noodle. Find some 5-minute crafts for kids that involve pool noodles, an inexpensive and common item found at home and at the pool store.
21. Easy-to-make no sew felt cupcakes by Frugally Blonde that can be made for pennies each out of pool noodles, pom poms, and felt. Yep, 5-minute crafts are here!
22. How to make a sculpture that floats by The Chocolate Muffin Tree. This a great activity that you can bring outside or in the bathtub too. All you need is some cut up pool noodles and toothpicks.
23. How to make fun figures and sculptures out of cut up pool noodles and golf tees. More cute and easy 5-minute crafts coming up! *Update: blog link is no longer available.
24. Simply put some tempera paint in some recycled lids and put a cut noodle in each one and we were ready to print/paint. *Update: blog link is no longer available. Here is another pool noodle painting tutorial from Fun a Day.
25. How to Make Star Wars lightsabers out of pool noodles for a birthday party or just for fun by Muddy Boots. Here are more safe 5-minute crafts for kids to make.
26. Quickly craft a creepy, crawly spider costume for your little one by using old pool noodles and a bathmat to create the effect of spider legs by Woman’s Day.
Pool Noodle Home Tips
Plain old pool noodles can be transformed into furniture, toys, games, and more. Read our collection of pool noodle projects.
27. How to cover the metal handle of a shopping cart to protect your baby while shopping by Living My Life on Purpose.
28. Do you have a toddler who doesn’t fit in a play yard anymore? Or perhaps you co sleep and can’t bring all the comforts of home on your trip. Well I found a solution by Andy-Pandy, Jacky-Dandy.
29. With some PVC pipe, some connectors, a tarp, zip ties and voila! The Made In The Shade pool shade was invented. *Update: blog link is no longer available.
30. Cool pool noodle hacks from 5 Minute Crafts that you’ll love.
Pool Noodle Backyard Wet & Wild Activities
Pool noodles are great for more than just floating on the water. Learn how to play with pool noodles the right way and how to enjoy more wet and wild backyard activities here.
30. How to turn one into a super squirter that can be used to launch all sorts of fun and games, such as the High Water Jump shown here. *Update: blog link is no longer available. Here is another tutorial by Make it & Love it that you may like.
31. The Kid Wash is crafted almost entirely from PVC pipe, a material we love not just for its low cost (about $30 for all the pieces shown here) and durability, but also for its ease of use (with all those interconnecting pieces — it’s like Tinkertoys for grown-ups). Now this is not a minute to win it games with pool noodles, just some wet and wild fun time. *Update: blog link is no longer available.
More Outdoor Games and Activities from Tip Junkie:
- Looking for boredom buster games for outdoors? These fun relay races for kids is your answer.
- Here are some really fun water games to play outside with the kids and their friends!
- Check out these fab swimming pool games for kids to cool down the summer heat.
- Do you know a pool noodle craft called wreath? Here are more ideas how to make wreaths for all seasons (especially winter!).
- The kids will have a blast celebrating American Touch Tag Day outside ! Check out these ideas.
- Here are more Christmas wreath crafts you and your little one can make this Christmas season.
- Complete the holiday seasons with these wreath projects. They can work sweetly as a gift too!
- Looking for more creative crafts? These DIY pencil craft ideas are the bomb.
- Have a wonderful birthday party with these cool DIY carnival games!
Time Tip: If you’re looking for something specific, type in any word in the Search Box and you’ll receive tons of creative DIY and how-to make tutorials.
 | Which of these pool noodle crafts and games are you doing with the kids? Share it in the comments below! ~ Laurie {a.k.a. the Tip Junkie} |
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This is soooooo cute! I don’t have small kids but this was so cute that I am going to forward it to my daughter that will be a new teacher next year, I am sure that she can use some of these ideas!
Laurie,
Just had to pop over and say you put a HUGE smile on my face by featuring my Pool Noodle wreath. I sure appreciate being included. It was fun and easy to make, I hope everyone tries it. Mine makes me happy just to look at it 😉
Happy SUMMER!! Shannon
I love the resourceful articles I find at tipjunkie, I checked out the Tip Junkie Facebook page .
So many coll things to do with pool noodles, I never would have guessed! Just finished throwing C her b-day bash, but M’s is coming soon. Think I will have to snag some of these fun ideas..thank you for the post!
All of these ideas are so creative! I love it! It really does show that you can use any product in any way that you want!