Pool Noodle - Page 2 of 3

The Noodle Button Tunnel

Steps:

Cut a piece of yarn about three feet long using your scissors.
Tie one end of the yarn to a sturdy chair leg.
Thread the other end through the center of a pool noodle.
Place your buttons in the aluminium foil pan at the start.
Hold the loose end of the yarn tight so it stays straight.
Ask your child to slide a button onto the yarn.
They must push it all the way through the pool noodle tunnel.
Have them drop the buttons into different baking cups at the finish line!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Small buttons are a choking hazard. Keep all small materials away from children who still place objects in their mouths.

Pool Noodle Pincer Pillars

Steps:

Adult Step: Carefully use scissors to cut the pool noodle into four or five round discs.
Have your child place the foam discs flat on a sturdy table or the floor.
Ask your child to push one golf ball tee into the center of each foam disc.
Provide the tweezers and a small bowl of colorful pom-poms for the next part.
Challenge your child to use the tweezers to pick up one pom-pom at a time.
They must carefully balance the pom-pom on the very top of the golf ball tee.
For an extra challenge, ask them to move the whole disc to a new spot.
They must be very gentle so the pom-pom stays on its pillar during the move!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required because golf ball tees have pointed ends. Ensure your child stays seated and uses the materials only for the activity.

Noodle Notch Shelf Build

Steps:

Use the scissors to cut a pool noodle into pieces about as long as a ruler.
Hold the noodle piece firmly with your non-cutting hand.
Snip three or four horizontal slits into the side of the foam.
Squeeze the handles together to make sure the scissors cut deep enough.
Slide a wooden craft stick halfway into each of the new slits.
Make sure the sticks are tight so they act like tiny shelves.
Use your thumb and pointer finger to pick up a soft pom-pom.
Carefully place the pom-pom onto the flat end of a craft stick.
See if you can fill all the shelves without any falling off!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors. Ensure the pom-poms are not placed in the mouth as they can be a choking hazard.

Noodle Chop Sort

Steps:

Use markers to color strips of paper that match the colors of your pool noodle. Tape these colored strips onto two separate baskets to create sorting targets.
Give your child the pool noodle and a pair of safety scissors. Encourage them to hold the noodle firmly with their ‘helper hand’ to keep it steady.
Challenge your child to cut the pool noodle into small, thin ‘coins’ or ‘slices.’ Remind them to use strong, full squeezes of the scissors.
Once the noodle is completely chopped, ask your child to look at the color targets. Sort the colorful foam coins into the matching color baskets.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise closely when using scissors. Use child-safe scissors appropriate for their hand size. Since the age range includes younger preschoolers, ensure that cut noodle pieces are not placed in the mouth, as they can pose a choking hazard if ingested.

Noodle Mountain Roll

A preschool girl guiding a tennis ball down a vertical DIY pool noodle track taped to cardboard. She is using bilateral hand use and focusing intently; A close-up view of a child crossing midline to reach the top of a homemade pool noodle ball ramp secured with colorful masking tape in a kitchen setting.

Steps:

An adult should safely cut the pool noodle lengthwise to create a long U-shaped channel (this will be your ramp).
Help your child use masking tape to secure the pool noodle ramps onto a large piece of standing cardboard or a sturdy wall in a zigzag or spiral pattern. Make sure the segments line up so the tennis ball can transfer easily.
Have your child stand centered in front of the track. Encourage them to start the tennis ball at the top, using both hands together to place the ball gently into the ramp opening.
As the ball rolls down, encourage them to follow the ball visually and use one hand to stabilize the cardboard wall (or the noodle itself) while the other hand reaches across their body (crossing midline) to catch the ball or guide it into the next section.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the cardboard or base used for the track is stable and cannot tip over or fall onto the child. Always supervise standing activities.