DIY Pool Noodle Connectors for Fun Outdoor Play this Summer

Pool noodles are one of those magical kid items that somehow turn into everything. A sword one minute, a balance beam the next, then suddenly part of an obstacle course, fort, race track, or giant pretend-play invention. They are inexpensive, lightweight, colorful, and perfect for getting kids moving, building, and creating outdoors.

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This simple DIY idea takes ordinary pool noodles and transforms them into giant building pieces kids can connect in endless ways. With a few foam drink koozies, pool noodles become tunnels, arches, circles, zig-zags, forts, relay race courses, pretend vehicles, and giant sculptures. It is the kind of activity that instantly pulls kids in because there is no “right way” to play with them. They can invent, experiment, rebuild, and burn energy for hours.

While wandering the aisles at Hobby Lobby, I spotted a package of six brightly colored foam drink koozies and immediately tossed them into my cart. They were cheerful, on sale, and impossible for me to resist. On the drive home, my brain was already spinning with possibilities for what they could become. Then the idea hit me — DIY pool noodle connectors.

As soon as I made the first set of Pool Noodle Connectors, I handed them to Ms. Tiger to test out. The moment she started connecting noodles together, I knew we had a winner. Soon we were building arches, giant circles, long winding lines, and all kinds of silly creations across the yard.

After that first successful test run, I went hunting for more foam koozies. Walmart and the dollar store were a bust, so I ended up right back at Hobby Lobby stocking up. I made a total of 12 connectors and grabbed a pile of regular-sized pool noodles (the mega noodles are too large) to get ready for our Memorial Day party. With a backyard full of kids ready to play, I could not wait to see what they would create with them.

I am proud to announce the drink koozie Pool Noodle Connectors where a success, and now I am so excited to share them with you! Kids can connect pool noodles to make circles, arches, lines, or whatever else comes to mind! There is only one step to making them, so go make some today so you can connect and unconnect pool noodles over and over again (way better than tape!).

DIY Pool Noodle Connectors with Foam Drink Koozies

Supplies:

• Foam drink koozies (These ones are the same style that we purchased)
• Knife or scissors
• Skinny pool noodles (not all pool noodles are the same size, we used the ones from the dollar store)

 

Directions:

1.  Trace the bottom of your pool noodle on the bottom if your drink koozie. Cut out the circle and you are ready to play! What an easy DIY, don’t you think? 🙂

 

 

 

We stuck two dowels in the ground, put a pool noodle on top of each, and connected the two noodles together to make a fun tunnel. We handed the kids some water squirters and I have to say, our Memorial Day party was a blast! The kids tucked and ducked, ran in between, and army crawled through our pool noodle obstacle course.

 

The pool noodles can slip out of place if bumped but kids can easily pop them back into place. If it happens frequently, grab your glue gun and put a ring of hot glue on the inside to make the fit tighter. Let the glue cool and keep playing! 🙂

 

 

 

 

POOL NOODLE-ING WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!

 

Thanks for playing with us today. If you enjoyed this idea please pin & share it with others so they can enjoy it too! Love, Katie & the Kiddos