These Pool Noodle Activities will have your kids entertained for hours. We’ve had them now for 2 years and they still provide hours of fun.
Pool Noodle Activities
I love summertime! And I love activities that get my kids outside and active. These pool noodles activities are perfect for little boys! Not only can they use up some of their endless energy but you don’ t have to worry about them getting hurt because they are using pool noodles. When I found pool noodles for sale at the dollar store I was so excited to create some fun games and activities for my kids. I think the lady that helped me out must have thought I was crazy as she watched me shoving pool noodles into every square inch of my car. But we fit and I made it home safe.
Pool Noodle Activities
1- Giant Ring Toss
Items needed:
-
6 or more 3/4″ wooden dowels
. We used 4 ft long but you could use shorter depending on how tall you want your game to be
-
6 or more pool noodles
(Make sure the diameter of the noodle hole is the same diameter of the dowels that you buy. Some of our noodles had a 1″ diameter and those won’t work for making the rings unless you buy 1″ dowels)
Step 1: Use a hammer to pound the dowels into the ground.
Step 2: Position one noodle onto each dowel until completely covered.
Step 3: Cut a dowel into 6″ segments. One for each ring you are making.
Step 4: Insert one of the cut dowels into a noodle to make a ring.
Step 5: Secure with duct tape.
Step 6: Assign different points to different targets and start play.
2-Pool Noodle Target Station
Items needed:
-
At least 9 pool noodles
-
Three 4 ft long, 3/4″ wooden dowels
Step 1: Make 6 rings as described above in the Giant Ring Toss game.
Step 2: Use duct tape to tape 6 rings together. 3 on top, 3 on bottom. Then tape the rings to two hollow pool noodle posts.
Step 3: Use a hammer to pound two 3/4″ dowels into the ground (ours were 48″ long) and slide the target station onto the posts.
Step 4: Then throw hollow pool noodles at the target. You can assign different point values to different rings. (My boys would have played with this all night long if we didn’t make them come in for bed. They loved it!)
(Idea for target station adapted from Family Fun Magazine)
3- Pool Noodle Croquet
Items needed:
-
6-8 pool noodles
-
4-5 3/4″ dowels cut to 12″ in length
Step 1: Use a hammer to pound two dowels into the ground, approx 30″ apart for each wicket you are making. (Can be further apart depending on how tall you want the wicket.) Slide pool noodle onto dowels to make an arch. For the mallet, use hollow pool noodles, or you could slide the noodle onto a dowel to make it stiff. Just make sure the dowel and noodle are the same diameter. Then use beach balls to play croquet.
Or you can just climb under them which is just as fun in my opinion!
4-Water Balloon Baseball
Insert a dowel into a hollow noodle for the bat. Make sure they fit snug so the dowel doesn’t fall out. Fill water balloons for the baseballs (filling them about 1/2 way full makes it so they can be hit and not pop as easily).
Most of the time they will pop but it’s a fun way to cool off when it’s hot!
5- Giant Tic-Tac-Toe
Use 4 pool noodles to make a tic-tac-toe game. Have one kid stand on each side and toss colored bean bags (do those look familiar?) to try and get tic-tac-toe. Get 3 in a row and you win!
This reminded me of the Toss Across game my grandma had when we were little.
And one of the best things about these games is that if it gets too hot, like it does here, you can always turn on the sprinklers while you play and cool off!
And once the fun is done, you can make your own snow cone syrup and enjoy a cool treat in the shade.
If you are looking for additional activities for your kids to enjoy outside, check out these super fun finds:
What is your favorite way to keep your kids entertained in the Summer?
Outside Activities Dart TossWearable Inflatable Bumper Balls
POOF Jarts Lawn Darts
GoSports Slammo Game Set
Boochie, A Whole New Game
Outdoor Backyard Ladder Ball
Giant Inflatable Bowling Set
Elite Ring Toss Game
&
And check out these posts for more summertime fun:
25 Things to Make with Pool Noodles
These are great ideas! Looks like lots of fun. I will have to try them.
Thanks! My boys have spent HOURS playing with the target station. You should try it!
This project would be very perfect for my family as this is what my husband makes for a living! Lol
This would be perfect! Do you get free noodles? 😉
Brilliant ideas for inexpensive games that the boys can build with their dad.
Thanks! My boys love building things with their dad and these were easy enough for them to help and even months later they continue to entertain them.
What a wonderful idea! I’m going to definitely try it this weekend. What is the best place to buy affordable pool noodles? Thanks!
The best place to get pool noodles is at the Dollar Store at the beginning of summer. They are all $1. But, this time of year, hmmm…I’m not sure. I know Walmart sometimes has them later in the year. If I see any I’ll let you know. Good Luck!
Thanks for the tip. I just bought a cart load of them at the $ Tree. Aldi’s has them too!
Oh great! I just loaded up on some more too. There are all sort of fun things you can do with them. 🙂
That looks like so much fun!! My 4 boys (and 1 girlie) would love to play these games in our backyard! I think I need a trip to the dollar store! Thanks for sharing via Family Fun Friday.
Oh you’re welcome! These games entertain my boys for hours and we have modified them to use them in lots of different way. Hurry to the dollar store before the noodles are gone. 🙂
I am in the process of making the ring toss and the target station for my son’s 4th grade party tomorrow. Any tips on how to get the 3/4″ dowels into the dry, hard ground?
My husband just pounded ours into the ground with a hammer. I don’t know if you could wet the area the night before maybe? But of course you don’t want mud. I’m not sure. Sorry I’m not more help. 🙂 Have a fun party!!
THANK YOU for the instructions..I wasn’t too sure about how to put noodle into the ground, the dowel is great, now I know how and I have 3 days to find and construct some of these for my boys’ birthday party this weekend. Always easier when you’ve ‘seen’ it done!!! These games are amazing, I look forward to making some
I’m so glad they were helpful. 🙂 Let me know if you have any other questions as you build them and happy birthday to your boys!
These are just AWESOME! I need to go buy some pool noodles this week 🙂
Where can I get dowels.
Btw this is an amazing idea!
I saw them at our local hardware store, but I used 3/4″ pvc pipe. You can cut it with a hacksaw (or an electric saw). We used 18 or 24″ concrete rebars (from Lowes) pounded into the ground with a rubber mallet, then just slip the pvc pipe over the rebar.
I’m thinking noodle olympics this summer!
Fun idea!
One of my boys’ birthday party is coming up, definitely going to create these games for the kids! Super fun idea!