Tag: pool noodle

Pool-Noodle Hockey

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Pool Noodle Hockey (1)

We needed to get outside at “Camp Mom” this morning, and I knew just the silly summer sport for the kids. Pool noodles for hockey sticks and a giant blown-up beach ball for the puck made the perfect summer props to play an outdoor version of hockey.

Simply set up orange cones as the goal markers and then divide into teams. (In our case, it was Travis versus mommy and little sister).

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Then take turns whacking the beach ball down the field toward your opponent’s goal. First team to 10 points wins!

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Or you don’t even have to keep score. Kids will no doubt just have fun with the mechanics of chasing the beach ball around with the pool noodle, which is sure to elicit delight.

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Pool Noodle Seahorse

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Pool Noodle Seahorse (5)

It was time for the last of our pool noodle crafts this morning, and it turned out to be the biggest and best yet!

To start, curl the end of one long pool noodle so it resembles a seahorses’s curlicue tail. Secure with garden Velcro strips.

Pool Noodle Seahorse (1)

For the head, curl down the top 10 inches or so of a second pool noodle; secure with a garden strip. We then glued on two foam eyes (alternatively, use sticky-back foam and eliminate the need for glue).

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Travis loved helping with the mane; snip a piece of craft foam to create fringe, then make a slit in the seahorse’s head with scissors and insert the foam.

Pool Noodle Seahorse (2)

Now tape the head and tail pieces together securely with duct tape. Our original seahorse seemed a bit too tall, so I cut about 6 inches from each noodle and then taped them. Now it was the perfect height. Travis was immediately galloping his seahorse around!

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Little sister loved it so much that we needed to make a mini version from just one pool noodle!

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As with the Ball Toss game we made, yes you could use the seahorse in a real pool, but the kids were ecstatic even on dry land. So don’t feel like you need to wait for water before making this craft!

Pool Noodle Sprinkler

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Pool Noodle Sprinkler (8)

Here was the perfect project for a day that hit 90 degrees even before noon: turn a pool noodle into a sprinkler to cool off!

We’ve been having lots of fun with pool noodles the past few days, but this was the first time we added water to the mix. Travis loved helping with the set up. Use a sharpie to make dots on a long pool noodle, spaced about 5 or 6 inches apart. Poke through with a skewer.

Pool Noodle Sprinkler (1)

Cut a small piece of foam from a second pool noodle to plug up one end of the long pool noodle. Leave the other end open.

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Now it was time to get wet! We headed outside and hooked up a garden hose to the faucet, and inserted it into the noodle. Turn the hose on gently and increase the flow as needed.

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Both kids loved it right away!

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Our sprinkler turned out to be better for getting hands and feet wet than for running through, but they both seemed just fine with that.

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The “sprinkler” was also a little faulty; too little pressure and the water wouldn’t rise up through the holes. Too much and the plug on the other end flew out! (You can help avoid this risk if you use a zip-tie to secure the plug, but we had skipped that step).

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Nonetheless, the kids loved it, even when the hose came out wildly and added to the splashy fun. One thing is for sure: we’ll be using this sprinkler again as the hot summer continues!

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Pool Noodle Marshmallow Poppers

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Pool Noodle Marshmallow (3)

Travis’s latest issue of Highlights magazine featured tons of ways to craft with pool noodles. With summer mere days away, we decided to test out the first of the lot: a marshmallow launcher! This is similar to a project we made in the past using a cup, but the pool noodle makes a much sturdier version.

To start, cut 3-inch pieces of pool noodle, one for each popper.

Pool Noodle Marshmallow (1)

Tie a knot in a balloon, then cut off the top end of the balloon. Stretch over one end of a pool noodle piece.

Pool Noodle Marshmallow (2)

Secure with duct tape, and add other strips of tape for fun pops of color, if desired. Now fill the cavity of the pool noodle with mini marshmallow (we love Dandies of course!). Pull down on the knot of the balloon and… launch!

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In addition to great fun trying to catch the marshmallows and eat them, the poppers led to lots of silly marshmallow wars. Travis loved being pelted with them, or pelting me with them, or hiding around the corner waiting to ambush each other.

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You might just find yourself acting like a kid right alongside your kid! This craft is sure to add a sweet note to any summer day.

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