Pool Noodle, Soccer Ball Kid’s Croquet

 Pool Noodle Croquet

Ahh, the terrible dread thrill of finding new activities on the cheap to keep my kids busy all summer is rapidly filling my mind and consuming my free time and I am less than a week into summer break.  I generally only have a few requirements for activities: that they be relatively inexpensive, keep the kids busy for more than an hour at a time and are quick and easy so I can still accomplish my own tasks.  This pool noodle croquet definitely fulfilled those requirements and even one upped them…not only were the kids busy for far longer than an hour, but they were laughing and getting exercise all at the same time.  As my daughter, Grace, would tell me, “That’s a win-win.”

I bought six hollow pool noodles from my local dollar store along with some kabob sticks that were hiding out in their kitchen aisle.  Wooden dowels would also work well, but this saved me a trip to another store and a couple of bucks as well.  Using garden shears I cut my kabob sticks to about 8 inches long and pushed it right into the grass.  Set the pool noodle onto the kabob stick and make an arch.  Decide where you want the other kabob stick for the opposite end and push into the grass.

Put a few more in the ground at random intervals and you are all set up.  I threw a soccer ball into the mix, gave my kids some loose rules and let them go.  They loved it and even made up multiple different games to play!  Creativity, outdoor playtime, cooperation, teamwork…yep, all these things and more were happening for a mere $7 of supplies.  I had not even planned on sharing this tutorial, but I had so many neighbors come up and ask about it that I thought maybe someone else could benefit from it.

Here are my kiddos mid game: (Notice the fallen tree in the background?  My parents had been out of town caring for my sick grandfather when we had a nasty storm that took it out.  They had just gotten back into town the evening before these pics were taken.)

What are your go to games to keep your kids busy during the summer?

Linked to Practically Functional