Put down your pencils and pick up a pool noodle – yep, a pool noodle, even in the fall! Thanks to Oklahoma’s milder weather, these 15 hands-on ways to make learning fun for your little one (most of the year).
Play The Greater Than Less Than Game
Which number is bigger? Which is smaller? Which way does the symbol face? This fun game uses pool noodles to teach kids about number comparison and help them remember which way the “greater than/less than” symbol faces. Remember, the alligator always eats the bigger number!
Teach Your Child How to Add to 10
How many ways can you make the number 10? This activity uses different colored pool noodles to visually show which combinations of numbers add up to 10.
Play Sum Splat
Everyone knows water balloons are a great way to beat the heat and have some backyard fun! But, did you know water balloons can also be a great learning tool? Help your kids practice their math facts with a little game called sum splat. Simply use a permanent marker to write a series of addition facts on your water balloons (ex: 2+2, 3+3, 4+4, etc.) and use chalk to write the possible outcomes on your sidewalk. Then, watch your little ones have fun throwing each balloon at the correct answer. How fun?!
CREATE ART
Painting with Pool Noodles
Just when you thought pool noodles couldn’t get more fun, this activity involves using pool noodles to paint apples! For a fun twist, check out this blog to learn how to make your own “stamps” to create fun pool noodle prints.
Squirt Gun Painting
If squirt guns aren’t your thing, you can use plastic spray bottles, too! Simply set up an easel with sheets of paper outside, fill up your squirt guns (or spray bottles) with liquid watercolors, and have fun watching your kids create colorful masterpieces for your fridge. You could also fill water balloons with paint and throw them at a canvas (outside, of course) as another fun way to create even more cool and colorful patterns.
PRACTICE READING & WRITING
Letter Smash
Similar to sum splat, this game uses water balloons to help younger kids learn the letters of the alphabet. Use a permanent marker to write each letter of the alphabet on a balloon. Then, do the same with chalk on the sidewalk. Have your kids pick up a balloon and toss it at the letter that matches. For a fun twist, you could also use this activity to help your child learn about lowercase and uppercase letters.
Painting Letters with Water
This mess-free activity is perfect for warmer days, and a great way to help preschoolers use their fine motor skills to practice writing the letters of the alphabet (or their numbers, too)!
Alphabet Soup
This is another super simple activity that can teach toddlers and preschoolers about the alphabet. Simply place foam letters into a water bin for toddlers to scoop out with a ladle.
Pool Noodle Word Search
This activity teaches kids how to spell by using pool noodles to create word patterns and rhymes. Once you’ve made all of your “pool noodle blocks” it’s time to play! Let your kids randomly pick three and stack them on top of each other. Then, let them find as many words as possible by turning the blocks and finding letter combinations! For example, if the bottom two letters are A-T, turning the top block could spell any of the following combinations: CAT, BAT, PAT, MAT...you get the point!
Sight Word Sailboats
Bring a little learning to your kiddie pool or bathtub with this super fun sight word sailboat activity. You only need five household materials to make each sailboat: Pool noodles, construction paper, straws, markers and tape. Once they’re made, place them in your kiddie pool or bathtub, call out a word and watch your kiddo have fun picking out the right one.
Water Balloon Baseball
Make a splash (literally!) with this fun twist on a favorite summer sport. Simply swap the wiffle ball for a water balloon and let the fun begin!
MAKE BATH TIME FUN
Blowing bubbles during bath time can be a great way to practice the basics of breath control used in swimming. Encourage your child to slowly blow air out of their nose and mouth as they put their faces to the water. Once they're comfortable with that, let them put their face underwater to blow even bigger bubbles! While they’re having fun and becoming more confident putting their face in the water, they’ll also be busy building the foundation for proper breath control.
Bath time is also a great opportunity to condition your little one to the feeling of water on their face. Use a plastic cup to gently pour water over your child's arm. Make it a fun game by saying something like, “Ready Go!” Once your child is comfortable with this, use the same approach to gently pour water over their head. Before you start, you could have your little one practice the same thing by pouring water over their dolls’ heads, too.
YOUR TURN!
Share which ideas are your favorite in the comment section below.
PS Don’t forget to empty any kiddie pools or buckets of water when you’re done, and make sure there’s ALWAYS a responsible adult supervising the kids any time they’re in or around water! Brush up on more water safety tips here.
About Goldfish Swim School – Edmond
Our year-round, indoor swimming lessons are designed to make learning fun through guided play. We have lessons for beginners, from 4 months to 12 years old, and we excel at teaching advanced techniques to more experienced swimmers. Our low, 4:1 maximum student-to-teacher-ratio ensures that your child receives the patience, supervision and guidance they need to achieve extraordinary results. Goldfish Edmond provides flexible, weekly lesson times that fit busy schedules. We also offer Drop In Lessons, which are especially helpful if you need lessons at varying times each week to fit your schedule, plus you can schedule one or more per week! We offer 12 free makeup lessons per year and swim lesson times 7 days a week. Please note that Goldfish Edmond is an approved vendor for Epic Charter Schools. To enroll your kids in swim lessons or learn more, visit goldfishswimschool.com or call 405-696-7500.
MAKE MATH MORE MAGICAL
Play The Greater Than Less Than Game
Which number is bigger? Which is smaller? Which way does the symbol face? This fun game uses pool noodles to teach kids about number comparison and help them remember which way the “greater than/less than” symbol faces. Remember, the alligator always eats the bigger number!
Teach Your Child How to Add to 10
How many ways can you make the number 10? This activity uses different colored pool noodles to visually show which combinations of numbers add up to 10.
Play Sum Splat
Everyone knows water balloons are a great way to beat the heat and have some backyard fun! But, did you know water balloons can also be a great learning tool? Help your kids practice their math facts with a little game called sum splat. Simply use a permanent marker to write a series of addition facts on your water balloons (ex: 2+2, 3+3, 4+4, etc.) and use chalk to write the possible outcomes on your sidewalk. Then, watch your little ones have fun throwing each balloon at the correct answer. How fun?!
CREATE ART
Painting with Pool Noodles
Just when you thought pool noodles couldn’t get more fun, this activity involves using pool noodles to paint apples! For a fun twist, check out this blog to learn how to make your own “stamps” to create fun pool noodle prints.
Squirt Gun Painting
If squirt guns aren’t your thing, you can use plastic spray bottles, too! Simply set up an easel with sheets of paper outside, fill up your squirt guns (or spray bottles) with liquid watercolors, and have fun watching your kids create colorful masterpieces for your fridge. You could also fill water balloons with paint and throw them at a canvas (outside, of course) as another fun way to create even more cool and colorful patterns.
PRACTICE READING & WRITING
Letter Smash
Similar to sum splat, this game uses water balloons to help younger kids learn the letters of the alphabet. Use a permanent marker to write each letter of the alphabet on a balloon. Then, do the same with chalk on the sidewalk. Have your kids pick up a balloon and toss it at the letter that matches. For a fun twist, you could also use this activity to help your child learn about lowercase and uppercase letters.
Painting Letters with Water
This mess-free activity is perfect for warmer days, and a great way to help preschoolers use their fine motor skills to practice writing the letters of the alphabet (or their numbers, too)!
Alphabet Soup
This is another super simple activity that can teach toddlers and preschoolers about the alphabet. Simply place foam letters into a water bin for toddlers to scoop out with a ladle.
Pool Noodle Word Search
This activity teaches kids how to spell by using pool noodles to create word patterns and rhymes. Once you’ve made all of your “pool noodle blocks” it’s time to play! Let your kids randomly pick three and stack them on top of each other. Then, let them find as many words as possible by turning the blocks and finding letter combinations! For example, if the bottom two letters are A-T, turning the top block could spell any of the following combinations: CAT, BAT, PAT, MAT...you get the point!
Sight Word Sailboats
Bring a little learning to your kiddie pool or bathtub with this super fun sight word sailboat activity. You only need five household materials to make each sailboat: Pool noodles, construction paper, straws, markers and tape. Once they’re made, place them in your kiddie pool or bathtub, call out a word and watch your kiddo have fun picking out the right one.
GET MOVING
Water Balloon Baseball
Make a splash (literally!) with this fun twist on a favorite summer sport. Simply swap the wiffle ball for a water balloon and let the fun begin!
MAKE BATH TIME FUN
Blowing bubbles during bath time can be a great way to practice the basics of breath control used in swimming. Encourage your child to slowly blow air out of their nose and mouth as they put their faces to the water. Once they're comfortable with that, let them put their face underwater to blow even bigger bubbles! While they’re having fun and becoming more confident putting their face in the water, they’ll also be busy building the foundation for proper breath control.
Bath time is also a great opportunity to condition your little one to the feeling of water on their face. Use a plastic cup to gently pour water over your child's arm. Make it a fun game by saying something like, “Ready Go!” Once your child is comfortable with this, use the same approach to gently pour water over their head. Before you start, you could have your little one practice the same thing by pouring water over their dolls’ heads, too.
YOUR TURN!
Share which ideas are your favorite in the comment section below.
PS Don’t forget to empty any kiddie pools or buckets of water when you’re done, and make sure there’s ALWAYS a responsible adult supervising the kids any time they’re in or around water! Brush up on more water safety tips here.
About Goldfish Swim School – Edmond
Our year-round, indoor swimming lessons are designed to make learning fun through guided play. We have lessons for beginners, from 4 months to 12 years old, and we excel at teaching advanced techniques to more experienced swimmers. Our low, 4:1 maximum student-to-teacher-ratio ensures that your child receives the patience, supervision and guidance they need to achieve extraordinary results. Goldfish Edmond provides flexible, weekly lesson times that fit busy schedules. We also offer Drop In Lessons, which are especially helpful if you need lessons at varying times each week to fit your schedule, plus you can schedule one or more per week! We offer 12 free makeup lessons per year and swim lesson times 7 days a week. Please note that Goldfish Edmond is an approved vendor for Epic Charter Schools. To enroll your kids in swim lessons or learn more, visit goldfishswimschool.com or call 405-696-7500.
