15 Super Fun Pool Noodle Games for Kids

My kids are always looking for new ways to be entertained, especially in the summer. Lately, I have been collecting ideas for cub scouts and girls camp and I came across so many fun pool noodle games! Who knew there were so many fun things to do with pool noodles!

15 Ways to Use Pool Noodles to Entertain Your Kids

These pool noodle activities are not only great for entertaining the kids in summer, they are also great for family reunions, birthday parties, cub scouts, girls camp and more!

1. Pool Noodle Marble Run or Hot Wheels track

Simply cut a pool noodle down the middle lengthwise and you have 2 insta tracks. If the inside of your pool noodle is not very hollow then it is perfect for a marble run, if you have a larger middle then it is fun for Hot Wheels Racing!

Photo Credit

2. Pool Noodle Abacus

What a fun way to teach your kiddos about counting, plus it keeps them entertained for a very long time.  All you need is string or rope and some pool noodles.

This could be used indoors or outdoors as long as you have something to tie it onto!  Kids of all ages would enjoy this one!

Photo Credit & Instructions Happy Hooligans

3. Pool Noodle Lawn Wickets

Set up a series of wickets for relay races, target practice, soccer croquet, and more. Just hammer some wood dowels into the ground and slide the middle of the pool noodle over the top of it. Easy peasy!

Photo and instructions Credit

4. Pool Noodle Target Game

How fun is this?!? Just some duct tape, a couple of wooden dowels to secure it to the ground and pool noodles and you have your very own target game for your back yard!

Photo Credit Parents.com

5. Pool Noodle Obstacle Course

Duct-tape six rings to one another, then tape them to thicker (3 1/2-inch-wide) hollow pool noodle posts. To stand it up just hammer two 1/2-inch dowels (ours were 48 inches long) securely into the ground and slide the posts on top.

Photo Credit Parents.com

6. Pool Noodle Game

Use pool noodles to bat the balloons into the laundry baskets. Whoever gets the most balloons in the laundry basket wins! This one will keep them entertained for HOURS.

Photo Credit Parents.com

7. Pool Noodle Tic Tac Toe

There is no tape or assembly required in this classic game of tic tac toe. You can lay the pool noodles over each other to create a giant tic tac toe game and use bean bags as your Xs and Os.

You could even increase the difficulty level by having to toss the bags into the right square.

Photo Credit The Joys of Boys

8. Pool Noodle Light Sabers

Perfect for the Star Wars fan and so simple to make! Just cut them to the size you want and use duct tape for the handles.

Credit Pool noodle Light Sabers!

9. Pool Noodle Ring Toss

Another classic pool noodle game that is a lot of fun is this ring toss game. It’s is easy to assemble and a hit with the kiddos! Just use wooden dowels to anchor them to the ground.

Instructions and photo credit

10. Pool Noodle Racer Boats

These pool noodle racer boats would be fun for a day at the lake or beach or party game. They are super easy to assemble! Your kids could spend an afternoon making them and then head on out to the pool or lake to let them sail.

Photo credit and instructions

11. Pool Noodle Lacing and Counting Learning Game

This is a great pool noodle activity to teach numbers, colors, and patterns to preschoolers. It works on number recognition and one-to-one correspondence too! With all the different combinations, your child will never get bored.

Pool Noodle Lacing and Counting Credit

12. Pool Noodle Water Wall

This is such a fun and creative idea for the kids to cool off playing with water during the summer.  I have also seen it on the wall of the bathtub.

Photo Credit and Instructions

13. Pool Noodle Ponies

I love crafts that use kids imagination and creativity. The best part of these Pool Noodle Ponies is that they can play with them too! What a practical craft idea and activity!

Photo credit and instructions

14. Pool Noodle Goal Post

Save money on outdoor goal posts with these made out of pool noodles, staked to the ground with wooden dowels, attach the horizontal noodle, and you are ready to play!

Photo Credit and instructions

15. Pool Noodle Trampoline Spring Covers

This is such a great idea to slip these pool noodle sections over your trampoline springs to protect your little ones from getting caught in the springs! Assign your older kids the task of putting them on. They will love being able to cut them up and feel like a big kid with their new job!

Photo Credit and Instructions

Final Thoughts

Pool noodles are found almost ANYWHERE during the early summer and are so inexpensive. Especially if you can find them at your local dollar store! Just stock up on a dozen or so of them and you will be able to entertain your kids for the entire summer!

I hope our ideas for pool noodle games gave you some inspiration for your next cub scout activity, camp, family reunion or just backyard fun. Be sure to pin this post for later. Just hover over the image below to pin.

More summer fun ideas…

How to Make a Water Blob

37 Summer Boredom Busters

A Bodacious Summer Planning Guide