May 30, 2014

DIY Pool Noodle Connectors for Fun Outdoor Play this Summer

Do you ever see something at the store that looks so perfect you have to buy it even though you don’t know what it is perfect for? That is how I stumbled upon this DIY for Pool Noodle Connectors.

While cruising the aisles at Hobby Lobby I saw a package of 6 foam drink koozies that where so colorful I had to buy them (and they were on sale and I am such a sucker for sales). Leaving the store I was excited and in deep thought trying to figure out what to do with them. It struck me as I drove home.

I made our first set of Pool Noddle Connectors then asked Ms. Tiger to try them out. Upon her success, I was out looking for more drink koozies (this is when I found out the dollar store and Walmart did not have any so I headed back to Hobby Lobby). I made 12 total connectors and bought a ton of pool noodles (mega pool noodles are too big) to prepare for our Memorial Day party where there was going to be lots of kids I could test the connectors on.

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

Pin me please! 🙂

Supplies:

Foam drink koozies Knife or scissors

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!

See More: Summer Ideas Here

See More: DIY for Kids Here

Summer Fun Resources

Banzai Wiggling Water Sprinkler-affiliate link
Intex Dinoland Inflatable Play Center-affiliate link
Slip N’ Slide Triple Racer with Slide Boogies-affiliate link
Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race Infatable Slide Bouncer-affiliate link

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

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Comments

Natasha Johnson says
May 30, 2014 at 2:36 pm

Thank you for this post. We love pool noodles and we have used just tape to connect them but after that they are no good any longer. This will allow us to connect them and take them apart for later use.

Reply
- Katie says
  May 30, 2014 at 9:49 pm
  
  Hi Natasha, I had no idea you couldn't use the noodles after they where taped. I am so glad that this makes the noodles reusable for you!
  
  Reply
Jamie White says
May 30, 2014 at 5:32 pm

What an easy and fun idea! We are always looking for fun ways to spend summer days, and this is perfect. I'm off to Hobby Lobby…

Jamie
Play to Learn Preschool

Reply
- Katie says
  May 30, 2014 at 9:50 pm
  
  Thanks so much, tell Hobby Lobby hi for me 🙂
  
  Reply
Tiffanie Watts says
June 1, 2014 at 4:40 am

Do you know that now they have connecter for the noodles in meijer for $5 – $25?

Reply
- Katie says
  June 1, 2014 at 5:03 am
  
  Hi Tiffanie, Thanks for sharing. I had no idea that noodle connectors where manufactured until after this post when I googled them to see if I could find anyone else DIYing them. I didn't find any homemade ones, but I did find the manufactured ones. Thankfully the drink koozies are a lot less then $25.
  
  Reply
JDaniel4's Mom says
June 1, 2014 at 11:03 am

Brilliant! I have been wanting some for my son for this summer to build with.

Reply
- Katie says
  June 2, 2014 at 6:32 am
  
  Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm glad you like them and I hope you and your son have tons of fun this summer!
  
  Reply
Katie says
June 2, 2014 at 10:41 pm

Thanks Heather!

Reply
Jolanthe Erb says
June 4, 2014 at 4:02 pm

Genius! Drink koozies – who knew?? Thenk you for sharing.

Reply
- Katie says
  June 9, 2014 at 9:40 pm
  
  I know, who knew 🙂 I'm so glad I bought those koozies. Thanks so much for stopping by!
  
  Reply
Victoria Armijo - Owner says
June 9, 2014 at 4:44 pm

Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop to share your DIY oll Noodle Connectors Idea! It looks absolutely like so much fun and perfect for summer!! Definitely making them with my daughters! You were featured this week as one of my favorites 🙂 Hope to see you again! Have a wonderful week!

Reply
- Katie says
  June 9, 2014 at 9:49 pm
  
  Hi Victoria, I love the Thoughtful Spot blog hop and try to visit every week. Thanks for the personal invite!!! I am so excited to be featured this week and really appreciate the exposure so much!
  
  Reply
Made In a Day says
June 12, 2014 at 5:52 pm

Such a simple idea! I love it! Stopping by to let you know I will be featuring these tomorrow on Made in a Day P3 Features! Thanks so much for pinning this to the party!
Kim

Reply
- Katie says
  June 13, 2014 at 1:27 am
  
  Hi Kim, I am thrilled for the feature. Thanks so much and for stopping to visit! 🙂
  
  Reply
Michele Reynolds says
June 26, 2014 at 12:52 am

Fun!!! Pinning

Reply
- Katie says
  June 26, 2014 at 3:12 pm
  
  Hi Michele, Thanks so much for visiting and the Pin! 🙂
  
  Reply