Hoop around your ankles
Make lightweight ankle hoops from foam pool noodle slices and tape, then practice stepping, hopping, and coordination games safely with a friend or alone.
Step-by-step guide to make lightweight ankle hoops from pool noodles and play stepping and hopping games
Step 1
Find a clear soft play area and lay out your materials.
Step 2
Ask an adult to help with the cutting and to supervise the activity.
Step 3
Use scissors to cut the pool noodle into slices about 1.5 to 2 inches thick.
Step 4
Cut a straight slit from the outer edge to the center of each slice so each slice opens into a C shape.
Step 5
Wrap duct tape around the slit and outer edges of each slice to secure and smooth them.
Step 6
Slide one taped slice gently onto your ankle to check the fit.
Step 7
Ask the adult to carefully lengthen the slit a little if the hoop feels too tight.
Step 8
Repeat checking the fit until each hoop slides on comfortably and stays in place.
Step 9
Decorate the hoops with colouring materials or stickers to make them fun.
Step 10
Put a finished hoop on each ankle and stand up slowly and safely.
Step 11
Take ten slow walking steps forward while keeping your balance.
Step 12
Try ten small hops with both feet together while landing softly.
Step 13
If you have a friend, stand facing them for a partner game.
Step 14
Mirror your friend's ankle moves for one minute to practice coordination.
Step 15
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Help!?
What can I use instead of a pool noodle if I can't find one?
If you can't find a pool noodle, use rolled-up soft foam craft sheets or foam pipe insulation cut into 1.5–2 inch slices with a slit so each piece opens into a C shape and can be slid onto the ankle like the pool noodle slices.
What should I do if a hoop is too tight or uncomfortable when I try to slide it on?
If the hoop is too tight or uncomfortable, ask the adult to carefully lengthen the slit a little as the instructions say, then wrap another layer of duct tape around the slit and outer edge and re-check the fit.
How can I adapt the activity for younger or older kids?
For younger kids have an adult do the cutting and make 2-inch slices with wider slits and closely supervise the stand-up, ten slow walking steps and ten small hops, while older kids can add more hops, longer mirror challenges, or trick variations for extra difficulty.
How can we extend or personalize the activity after making the hoops?
To personalize and extend the activity, decorate the hoops with stickers or waterproof paint during the decorate step, attach small bells or ribbons with duct tape to the outer edge for sound and sensory feedback, or set up an ankle-hoop obstacle course to practice balance beyond the ten walking steps and ten hops.
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Facts about gross motor skills and balance for kids
🌀 Wham-O helped turn the plastic hula hoop into a global fad in 1958, selling millions within months.
🏊 Pool noodles are made from polyethylene foam, which is lightweight, flexible, and buoyant—great for safe DIY crafts.
🧭 Proprioception is often called the body's "sixth sense" because it tells your brain where your limbs are without looking.
🦶 The ankle joint mainly involves the tibia, fibula, and talus bones working together to let you hop and balance.
🤸 Simple stepping, hopping, and coordination games are key activities that build gross motor skills in children.
How do you make and play with ankle hoops made from pool noodles?
What materials do I need to make pool noodle ankle hoops?
What ages are ankle hoop games suitable for?
What safety tips should I follow when kids play with ankle hoops?
