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Homemade Pool Toys

A backyard pool of some size is almost a necessity during the summer in most parts of the United States. Pool toys help reduce boredom and encourage exercise. Many toys for the pool can be created from easily acquired, inexpensive household materials.

Things You'll Need

Butter dishes or other soft plastic containers
Ice pick or nail
Small piece of cord or rope
Plastic serving utensils
2 small plastic trash cans or empty 5 gallon buckets
Bouncy balls
Large craft sponges
Stencils in water-related shapes
Pencil or marker
Craft knife

Instructions

Sieves and Buckets
- 1
  Save back two soft plastic containers (butter dishes work well). Wash them out thoroughly.
- 2
  Punch several holes in the bottom of one of the containers. This becomes a sieve for water and sand.
- 3
  Punch two holes in either side of the other container. Thread a small piece of cord or rope through the holes to make a handle. This will work as a bucket.
- 4
  Provide old plastic baking utensils such as plastic soup ladles to be used to stir and scoop.
Pool Basketball
- 5
  Place a small (clean) trash can or empty five-gallon bucket on the side of the pool.
- 6
  Weigh the trash can or bucket down with a brick or rock so that it won't get knocked over during play.
- 7
  Use any medium-sized ball for your "basketball." Take turns trying to make baskets from a designated spot in the pool. You can also play this game with two baskets on either end of the pool.
Fun Sponges
- 8
  Purchase several large sponges from a craft supply store. Make sure they are at least four inches square so you will have room to cut out your shapes.
- 9
  Place a craft stencil in a water-related shape such as a boat or fish on top of the sponge. Use a pencil or marker to trace the shape on to the sponge.
- 10
  Cut out the shape using a craft knife that has a blade long enough to go all the way through the sponge.
- 11
  Use the sponges to play tossing games or to have "sponge wars."

Kids Games