Pool noodle facts for kids
.jpg)
A pool noodle is a long, floaty tube made from a special kind of foam. It's often hollow inside. People of all ages use pool noodles when they are swimming.
These fun noodles are great for many things in the water. They help people learn to swim and make it easier to float. You can also use them for water games or even for exercise in the pool. Most pool noodles are about 160 centimeters (about 63 inches) long and 7 centimeters (about 2.75 inches) wide. They are also helpful for people who find swimming a bit tricky.
Sometimes, pool noodles are used outside the water too. They can protect sharp edges and corners, making things safer.
Contents
What Are Different Types of Pool Noodles?
The name "water woggle" comes from a company called Koswell Holdings. They first sold this foam water toy in the 1980s.
The common name "noodle" comes from a product called FunNoodle. This foam tube water toy was created by Jakks Pacific.
Canoodle is a special building set made from plastic. It lets you connect pool noodles together to create bigger things.
A Noodleskin is a cover you can put over a foam pool noodle. It helps turn two pool noodles into a floating seat.
How Do Pool Noodle Connectors Work?
There are many ways to connect pool noodles. One type of connector is a foam pipe. It's a bit bigger than a noodle, so you can slide the ends of two noodles into it. This joins them together.
Other connectors are made from a safe plastic material. These are often like a building set. They screw into the hollow center of a foam noodle. Then, they attach to a six-sided connector piece. This allows you to build much larger structures with your noodles. You can find connectors with two, four, or six holes. There are also many different plastic parts to help you build all sorts of designs.
Other Cool Uses for Pool Noodles
Pool noodles are similar to foam insulation used for pipes in homes. Even though they are different materials, people sometimes use pool noodles as a quick fix for pipe insulation.
In live action role-playing games (LARPs), people often use pool noodles to make safe foam weapons. They are cheap and easy to turn into a harmless sword or club. However, this foam can wear out faster than other types of foam.
Some martial artists use pool noodles for practice. They cut through them instead of more expensive targets like meat or special mats. This helps them practice their cutting skills.
Robots in the FIRST Robotics Competition use foam from pool noodles. This foam acts as a bumper to protect the robots during crashes.
Shoe stores use short pieces of pool noodles to help women's boots stand up straight for display. Many people also use them at home to keep their boots from flopping over in the closet.
Cyclists have started using pool noodles for safety. They attach them to their bikes to show how much space cars should give them when passing.
People also use pool noodles to protect bicycle parts when shipping them. They wrap the noodles around frames or forks to prevent damage.
Images for kids
-
Woman floating with a pool noodle
-
Pool noodles used during an exercise in a U.S. Marine Corps aerobics class
-
Cyclist demonstrating what the minimum safe passing distance would be with pool noodles
