Pool Noodle Games and Crafts for Kids: 10 Easy DIY Ideas

Have a pool noodle lying around after summer? Before you throw away the leftover pieces, there are quite a few things you can make with them.

Pool noodles are lightweight, colorful, and easy to cut into rings or smaller cylinders. Those leftover pieces can become simple games, racing challenges, and art materials for kids. You don’t need to buy a whole set of craft supplies, either. A few household items can turn them into something new to play with.

Here are 10 pool noodle games and crafts to try at home, during playdates, or on a rainy afternoon.

1. DIY Pool Noodle Match-3 Puzzle

If your child enjoys mobile games where you move colored pieces around to make matching groups, try making a physical version with pool noodle pieces.

You will need:

• Pool noodle pieces in at least three different colors
• A shallow tray or a piece of cardboard
• A marker and ruler
• Scissors or a craft knife for adult use

How to make it:

1. Cut the pool noodle into short, thick rings or cylinders. An adult should handle the cutting.
2. Draw a 4 × 4 grid on cardboard, or mark out 16 spaces on a tray.
3. Arrange 15 pieces of different colors on the grid, leaving one space empty.
4. Let your child slide one piece at a time into the empty space.
5. When two or three pieces of the same color meet in a row or column, remove them and score points.

You can start with a simple version where children only need to match two colors. For an extra challenge, set a target number of matches or see how many pieces they can clear in a limited number of moves.

Tip: Decide whether pieces must touch horizontally or vertically before you start. This keeps the rules clear.

2. Pool Noodle Blow Race

This is a simple game that needs very little preparation. The idea is to get a lightweight pool noodle ring across a table using only your breath.

You will need:

• Short pool noodle rings
• A table or smooth, flat surface
• Tape to mark a starting line and finish line

How to play:

1. Give each player one pool noodle ring.
2. Mark a start and finish line on the table.
3. Players blow gently to move their rings towards the finish line.
4. The first ring to cross the finish line wins.

For a group, you can run several short races or create a winding course with tape.

For younger children, keep the course short and simple. Use separate pieces for each child, and avoid the activity with children who may be tempted to put the pieces in their mouths.

3. Pool Noodle Boat Race

Have a water tray or a long plastic container? Turn it into a mini racecourse.

You will need:

• Short pieces of pool noodle
• A large shallow water tray or plastic tub
• Spoons
• Water

How to play:

1. Fill the tray with a shallow layer of water.
2. Place the pool noodle pieces on the water so they float.
3. Mark a starting point and a finish line.
4. Each player uses a spoon to push their floating piece towards the finish.
5. The first one across wins.

You can race two pieces at a time or try to guide one piece around a simple obstacle.

This is a good outdoor activity for a warm day. Keep the water shallow, supervise children closely, and empty the container after play.

4. Pool Noodle Foam Printing

The cut ends of pool noodle pieces can double as stamps. This is a useful way to turn leftover scraps into art materials.

You will need:

• Short pool noodle pieces with flat ends
• Washable, child-safe paint
• Paper
• Shallow plates for paint

How to make it:

1. Pour a little paint onto a plate.
2. Dip the flat end of a noodle piece into the paint.
3. Press it onto paper to make a circle.
4. Repeat with different colors and sizes to create patterns, flowers, bubbles, or abstract art.

Try using several different noodle diameters if you have them. The different circle sizes can make the finished picture more interesting.

Let the artwork dry before displaying it.

5. Make Pool Noodle Flowers

Bright noodle pieces can be turned into cheerful flowers for a craft session.

You will need:

• Colored pool noodle rings or small pieces
• Cardboard
• Child-safe glue
• Paper or craft sticks for stems
• Markers or other decorations

How to make it:

1. Draw a flower shape on cardboard.
2. Arrange small noodle pieces around a centre circle to form petals.
3. Glue the pieces onto the cardboard.
4. Add a paper or craft-stick stem.
5. Decorate the background with leaves, grass, or butterflies.

For younger children, prepare the pieces in advance and let them arrange and glue the petals. Older children can experiment with different colors and patterns.

6. Pool Noodle Caterpillars and Funny Creatures

Instead of making flowers, use the same foam pieces to create little creatures.

You will need:

• Pool noodle rings or short pieces
• Cardboard
• Child-safe glue
• Markers
• Paper for eyes, feet, wings, or antennae

How to make it:

1. Arrange several colored pieces in a row to form a caterpillar.
2. Glue them onto cardboard.
3. Add paper eyes, legs, and antennae.
4. Give your creature a name and invent a little story about it.

Children can make snakes, imaginary insects, colorful monsters, or whatever they come up with. This is an open-ended craft, so there is no need for every creature to look the same.

For safety, use paper details rather than small plastic eyes or other detachable pieces with young children.

7. Pool Noodle Color-Pattern Challenge

This game uses the same colorful pieces, but instead of clearing the board, the goal is to copy a pattern.

You will need:

• Pool noodle rings in different colors
• Cardboard or a tray
• Paper and markers

How to play:

1. Make a simple pattern on paper, such as red, blue, yellow, red.
2. Ask your child to arrange the noodle pieces in the same order.
3. Make the patterns longer as they get comfortable.
4. For a harder version, show the pattern briefly, cover it, and ask them to recreate it from memory.

You can use rows of colors, alternating patterns, or repeating sequences. It works well as a quiet activity for one child or a challenge for siblings to take turns completing.

8. Collect-the-Color Game

Turn the noodle pieces into a simple collecting game. The goal is to collect the most complete sets of matching colors.

You will need:

• Pool noodle pieces in three or four colors
• A bag or container

How to play:

1. Put all the pieces into a container.
2. Each player takes turns drawing one piece without looking.
3. Players keep the pieces they draw and try to collect three of the same color.
4. When a player has a set of three, they place it in front of them.
5. Continue until the container is empty or no more sets can be made.
6. The player with the most complete sets wins.

For a simpler version, let younger children pick pieces openly and sort them into color groups. You can also make it cooperative: everyone works together to collect a set of every color.

9. Pool Noodle Ring Toss

If you have enough noodle pieces, turn them into a simple target game.

You will need:

• Pool noodle rings
• Empty plastic bottles or sturdy cardboard tubes
• Tape to mark a throwing line

How to play:

1. Place the bottles or tubes a short distance away.
2. Give each player the same number of noodle rings.
3. Players take turns tossing the rings towards the targets.
4. Award one point for each ring that lands around a target.

Move the targets closer for younger children and farther away for older ones. You can also assign different point values to targets at different distances.

Use large, lightweight targets that won’t tip dangerously, and make sure children throw only towards the targets.

10. Pool Noodle Mosaic Art

This is a good way to use up the small pieces left after making the other activities.

You will need:

• Small pool noodle pieces in different colors
• Thick cardboard
• Child-safe glue
• A pencil

How to make it:

1. Draw a large, simple shape on cardboard, such as a rainbow, fish, heart, or house.
2. Arrange the noodle pieces inside the outline.
3. Experiment with color blocks, stripes, or repeating patterns.
4. Glue the pieces down once the design is ready.
5. Let the mosaic dry flat.

For younger children, draw large sections and let them fill each area with one color. Older children can make more detailed designs or create their own pictures.

A Few Safety Tips Before You Start

Pool noodles are generally easy to work with, but the activities still need a little preparation.

• Adults should cut the noodles. Use a sharp craft knife or scissors only if suitable for the material, and keep cutting tools away from children.
• Check the pieces before play. Discard damaged pieces that shed foam or have rough edges.
• Supervise younger children. Small rings and foam pieces can pose a choking risk, especially for children who still put objects in their mouths.
• Use child-safe materials. Choose washable paints and age-appropriate glue.
• Supervise water play. Even shallow water requires close adult supervision, and containers should be emptied afterwards.
• Keep races gentle. Make sure the play area is clear and children aren’t throwing foam pieces at one another.

Make More from One Pool Noodle

You don’t need to make all 10 activities at once. Cut a few pieces for the color-matching puzzle, keep some rings for races, and save the smaller scraps for printing or mosaic art.

The best part is that the same colorful pieces can be reused for several games. When your child gets bored with one activity, change the rules or turn the pieces into something else.

Sometimes the simplest play materials are the ones that keep children inventing new ways to play.

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