Simple DIY Boats in the Water Table

 

We recently had a pool noodle break on us, so I turned it into simple DIY boats to enhance our water table play.

 Simple Boats in the Water Table

(E was 33 months old.)

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You’ll need:

  • Pool noodle.
  • Knife.
  • Water table.
  • Toothpicks (optional).
  • Scraps of paper (optional).
  • Scotch tape (optional).
  • Fizzy tub colors (optional).

 

 

How to make simple DIY boats:

If you don’t have a really old pool noodle handy that you can just pull apart with your hands {that’s what I did with ours}, cut it into sections, maybe two inches long. Cut each section in half lengthwise. If you want, attach “sails” made from scraps of paper to the toothpicks {I used Post-It notes to avoid having to use extra tape}, then stick the bottoms of the toothpicks into the pool noodle “boats”.

 

Simple Boats in the Water Table

 

Of course, E insisted on using “Elmo” {for the picture on the packaging of the fizzy bathtub colors} on the water – the color mixing never gets old!

 

Simple Boats in the Water Table

 

 Once the water was suitably colorful, E added the boats.

 

Putting the first boat into the water.

 

They float, but E experimented with pushing them under the water.

 

Pushing a boat under water.

 

She’s really into numbers right now, so she made sure to count the boats {and came up with 5 😉 }.

 

Counting the Boats

 

 The “sails” came apart fairly easily, so E had to fix them a few times.

 

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Surprisingly, there really wasn’t much splashing this time but clearly, some of that orange water had to go join the blue water in the lower compartment 😉

 

Splashing water.

 

We had some extra toothpicks, so E played with those for a while.

 

Playing with toothpicks.

 

Submerging toothpicks.

 

To get the wigglies out, she decided to walk in circles around the water table, holding on to the edge – I was surprised she didn’t get dizzy but she was just fine 😉

 

Walking in circles around the water table.

 

After that, she went and got the slide that came with the water table – I never get it out but she usually insists on making it a part of her water play, even though it’s not stable at all and has to be put back together repeatedly.

 

simple-boats-in-the-water-table-10

 

She tried to put the boats through the slide

 

simple-boats-in-the-water-table-12

 

and they got stuck – E thought that was hilarious 😉

 

simple-boats-in-the-water-table-13

 

They went down the ramp in the water table itself much more easily.

 

simple-boats-in-the-water-table-14

 

The toothpicks had a much easier time navigating the slide.

 

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 We were both really pleased with this fun water play time with minimal supplies!

 

 

 

Additional suggestions:

  • You can absolutely do this in the sink, a plastic bin or even the bathtub if you don’t have or don’t want to use a water table. {Although I can assure you, our water table was worth every penny, and we’ve only had it for a few weeks!}
  • Make more elaborate diy boats from other upcycled items.
  • Explore sinking and floating items.
  • Explore color mixing.

 

 

 

How have you enjoyed water play lately? Have you made your own boats? Leave a comment to tell me about it!

 

 

 

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6 Comments

  1. Yet another thing to use those pool noodles for! I love these!

    1. You’re right, they really are very versatile! The number of pool noodles we actually use in the pool has been going down suspiciously quickly 😉

  2. E looks so sweet playing with her boats. I love coming up with ideas for re-purposing worn-out objects. Love the coloured water, too – everything is better in colour!

    1. Thank you, Lucinda! She sure loves the fizzy bath colors – every time we get out the water table, it’s the first thing she asks for. And I have to agree that they look very cheerful!