Lovely childcare

Get Excited with Pool Noodles! A Collection of Play Ideas for Fun in Childcare

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

Want to make playtime in childcare even more fun? That’s where pool noodles really shine.

With this soft material, you can create all kinds of engaging play items like rings, monorails, and see-saws that kids will love.

Pool noodle play is safe and visually appealing with its bright colors.

How about crafting your own tools and getting active together with the children? Here are some pool noodle ideas that let kids get plenty of exercise and play even indoors.

Get the Fun Rolling with Pool Noodles! A Collection of Play Ideas for Childcare (1–10)

Picture matching

No.106 “Picture-Matching Peg Insertion Toy” [Handmade Toy by a Nursery Teacher]

Picture matching

Pool noodles are also great for making matching-picture toys.

You’ll need pool noodles, a cylindrical potato chip can, a paper towel holder, and tape or glue.

First, design the matching pictures so that two rings of the pool noodle form one complete image.

Reinforce the strip-shaped images by covering them with OPP tape.

Next, cut off the excess length of the potato chip can and use double-sided tape to attach the image into a loop.

After cutting the can to match the height of the image, place the looped image onto the pool noodle.

Cut the noodle into rings as well.

When playing, stack the rings on a paper towel holder.

It’s a toy that can be enjoyed in many ways depending on a child’s age and interests.

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A circuit made with pool cues

[Ages 0–5] Seven Types of Indoor Educational and Physical Play! [Nursery School/Kindergarten]

A circuit made with pool cues

Let’s play while getting creative! Here are some circuit (obstacle course) ideas you can make with pool noodles.

All you need are pool noodles and a utility knife or scissors.

Cut the long pool noodles in half and use them for the course! Place the halved pool noodles on the floor and include a tightrope-walk section where kids crawl or walk along them.

You can also roll balls along the top of the noodles, or connect them into circles to make ring shapes—great ideas to try!

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Monorail Play

Let's Play with Pool Noodles! [1-Year-Olds] | Minami Senrioka Yui-en [Nursery/Kindergarten Event]

Monorail Play

String a cord across the room and thread lots of pool noodles onto it—your monorail play is ready to go! Pretend the pool noodles are monorail cars and move them along.

Add “clackety-clack” sound effects to set the mood.

If you make the cord longer and adjust the number of noodles, you can run several monorails at once.

Arrange the setup so many children can play together.

Also, set the cord at a height where it won’t catch around children’s necks.

The spot where the cord is tied becomes the end of the line.

Reaching the station is part of the fun of monorail play!

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Get Excited with Pool Noodles! A Collection of Fun Childcare Play Ideas (11–20)

Color Whack-a-Mole

[Cheerful Recreation 🏀] 8 Budget-Friendly Activities from the 100-Yen Shop! Easy to Prepare and Fun for Everyone—from Kids to Seniors!

Color Whack-a-Mole

Color Whack-a-Mole, where players hit pool noodles from both sides to see which team can push them into the opposing side, is a perfect game for large groups.

Arrange and fasten pool noodles to a wire frame available at 100-yen shops.

When securing them with bands, make sure the noodles can still slide when pushed.

Participants sit on both sides and strike with short pool noodles they hold.

The fixed noodles will move, so keep hitting to make them pop out toward the opponents.

It’s also a game that develops the ability to take in the whole field.

Recommended for ages 4 and up.

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An educational toy made with pool cues

[Handmade Educational Toy] A Toy that Promotes Finger Dexterity [Seria 100-Yen Store]

An educational toy made with pool cues

Let’s have fun with our fingertips! Here’s an introduction to an educational toy you can make with a pool noodle.

You’ll need a pool noodle, a utility knife, a paper towel holder, ribbon, a wide tapioca (boba) straw, tape, pom-poms, and tongs.

After cutting the pool noodle into large, medium, and small pieces, you can use the paper towel holder to thread the pieces onto the pole and play! You can also use the ribbon and straw for lacing activities, and even play pretend cake shop using pom-poms and tongs.

Give it a try!

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Stick-pulling sumo

https://www.tiktok.com/@cocoskip/video/7263409574894374152

Here’s an idea for a sumo-style game using a stick.

You’ll need a pool cue, a mat, and a platform.

It’s a fun game that builds strength and balance! Two players hold a single pool cue and pull against each other, trying to either make the opponent step off the platform or let go of the stick.

It also helps develop patience through focused, physical competition.

Since the game starts with the mat and platform setup, it’s a great activity for after-school day services.

Kids can have fun while boosting their fitness and competitive spirit.

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Stack and play

[For 1-year-olds] Various games using pool noodles♪

Stack and play

Prepare pool noodles in various colors and thicknesses.

You’ll have a toy perfect for soft block play.

You can simply stack them as high as you can, or enjoy rolling them around.

Balancing the pool noodles while stacking without letting them fall is great fine-motor practice.

Different thicknesses change the balance, so children can try again and again without getting bored.

For infants, just watching the teacher stack the pool noodles provides good stimulation.

Try playing freely with your own ideas.

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