With summer
right around the corner, water noodles are already going on sale.
Now is the perfect time to stock up on the foam floatation devices
and put them into unexpected use. Here are seven creative ways to
use your water noodles.
- Conveyer Belt--Here is a team game that will
really get the crowd moving. Beforehand, cut up noodles into pieces
around 3-feet long. You'll need around 10 pieces per team. One
member from each team will also need a flat thing to sit on (think
cheep pizza pan). The object is for team members to build a
conveyer belt so the team member who's sitting down can be pushed
to the finish line. Make the finish line far away enough that teams
must constantly move noodle pieces from the back of the line to the
front to keep their sitting down member moving. You could tie this
game into a lesson about how we all work together for God.
- Race Tracks--This craft is great for little
ones. Many water noodles come with holes in the middle. Find a few
of them and cut them in half long-ways. Tape them end to end and
you have yourself an instant toy car or marble race track.
Experiment and see what kind of crazy tracks you can make, or put
two side-by-side and have a race.
- Noodle Hockey--A great game that can fit most
size groups and play areas. Cut your noodles in half, then give
each player one to use as a hockey stick. Form two teams and play
with a light-weight ball. You can even make a make-shift goal out
of a few leftover noodles.
- Work of Art--Thinly sliced sections of noodles
make quick and easy circle stamps to paint with. Try this activity
with different shaped noodles (some come in gear or flower shapes).
You could even stick a pencil in the middle of a section and use it
as a small paint roller. Let your kids experiment!
- Keep Your Balance--A simple one-on-one game
that just requires one noodle. Two players grab different ends of
the same noodle and bend down in a squatting position. The aim of
the game is to get your opponent to let go of the noodle or lose
his balance and touch the ground by pushing and pulling the noodle.
Considering tying it into a lesson about how when the world tries
to shake us, God can keep us on solid ground.
- Sock It to Me--A high-energy game great for
older kids. Kids each get a noodle (or two for a longer game) tied
or taped on their back. Cover the top of each noodle with a sock.
Players each try to take the socks off other players' noodles,
while keeping an eye on their back. Players cannot touch each
other, just the noodles. Play until there's only remaining or until
time runs out (in which case, the person with the most socks
wins).
- Safety First--If you have kids running around
there's always a chance of someone getting hurt. While they're on
sale, grab a few extra noodles, cut them in half, and place them
around sharp corners or edges of furniture. Used with a designer's
eye, they can actually brighten up a room for kids.
These are just some ways to use your noodle this summer, and not
one used a pool! But if you're looking for some water fun for your
kids, we've got you covered! Dive in!
