Labor Day is soon approaching, and this one day off gives you the perfect opportunity for some poolside fun for the whole family, along with finding out what your children are interested in. Start by telling them a little history of Labor Day and how it came to be. In case you don’t know yourself, here’s a tidbit of information:

Labor union leader and carpenter Peter J. McGuire coined Labor Day. He thought Americans worked hard day and night to make their country better and achieve the American Dream; therefore, they should have a day that honors their efforts. The idea was proposed to the Central Labor Union in New York in 1882 and was immediately approved.

We suggest you plan a relaxing day for September 6th and have a blast with your family. To make the day full of fun, make some DIY crafts with your children. Below are a few ideas on swimming toys for toddlers and Labor Day crafts that are pretty easy to make. If your child doesn't like water and would rather remain on the deck, you can also find plenty of our all-in-ine craft kits over at the Pinwheel Crafts. We recommended checking out the Unicorn Pillow Kit, as it can provide a nice headrest for lounging by the pool..

Wine Cork Racing Boats

A pool party isn't fun until the children are splashing in the water. These days, it’s not so common to see paper boats because they sink pretty fast, and the ones made from foam aren't that fun to race with. Yes, we said race! No need to buy expensive toys that float on water and run on batteries because these wooden boats are fun to make and customizable to your toddler's preferences.

You Will Need

• Wine Corks (You drink the wine and pass on the corks to your children)
• Toothpick
• Cotton String
• Rubber Bands
• Card Stock Paper
• Glue

Directions

• Glue three wine corks together.
• Wrap the corks with string and tie the string off. (Make sure the knot is positioned in the middle.)
• Insert a toothpick into the middle cork (this will be the mast).
• Create a paper flag and glue it to the toothpick

Your boat is ready to race!

You can make bigger boats by gluing together multiple corks. If your child or toddler wants to decorate the boat, take their favorite LEGO character and glue it on the cork. Paste a sticker on the flag and attach a nameplate on the front.

Pool Noodle

Pool noodles are one of the best inventions to exist, especially when you are thinking about spending the day swimming. Why get those blow-up floaties when you can make them easily at home and in whatever shape you desire?

You Will Need

• Pool Noodles (In different colors and sizes)
• Nylon Rope
• Lighter
• Scissors

A regular-sized pool noodle costs $2, and the smaller ones are for less. Depending on how old your toddler is, you can pick the ones that will best support their weight.

Directions

• Pass a rope through the inside of the pool noodle.
• Tie a knot with the ends of the rope so that the pool noodle ends pull together and form a raindrop shape.
• Do the same with other pool noodles and combine them so that the loops go through each other
• Divide the strands and then braid them to secure the pool noodles
• Tie a final knot, cut off the strands, and burn the ends so that the braid doesn’t come undone

You can even cut the pool noodle into small cylinders and make a fish out of it. Click here to read the tutorial on how to make one.

Let’s move on to the Labor Day crafts.

Tin Can Flag Lights

Labor Day is all about celebrating the hard work of American employees. Putting together a craft that pays tribute that and is fun at the same time can be a little bit difficult. So, we have brought you the perfect craft that will light up your pool party.

You Will Need

• Empty Tin Cans
• A Nail and Hammer
• Paint
• Marker
• Tea Lights

Directions

• Use a marker to create a connect-the-dot type pattern on your can. (You can also create illustrations such as fireworks or a star.)
• Place the nail on the markings and gently tap on it with a hammer to create small holes.
• Paint your cans in three colors using red at the top, white in the middle, and blue on the bottom to represent the US flag.
• Place tea lights in the tin cans, dim your backyard lights, and enjoy your pool party!

The Box Town

Your backyard needs a little splash of color and a small city for those wandering squirrels and opossums. So, why not use those discarded boxes, milk cartons, and tissue paper rolls to create something unique.

You Will Need

• Paint
• Tissue Paper Rolls
• Milk Cartons
• Shoe Boxes
• Empty Boxes in Any Size
• Colored Paper
• Vinyl Sheets
• Scissors
• Tape
• Glue
• Pen Knife
• One bead
• Printed templates of buildings, such as a police station, a bakery, a grocery store, a factory, etc.

Directions

• Print out your templates and paste them on the appropriately sized boxes.
• Use a pen knife to cut out the windows and paste the vinyl sheets from inside.
• Cut the three sides of the door and gently bend it outwards.
• Glue a bead on it for the door handle.
• To create a factory, create double doors and glue the tissue paper rolls on top to create smoke stacks.
• For the bakery, use the milk carton and create a double pane window. Cut the sides from top, bottom, and middle, and push the flaps inside.
• Make a small tray with cardstock and glue it outside the window. Place two plastic flower pots on it.
• Once you have made your corner of the town, cover the sides, and back with paint

Final Thoughts

So, what do you think? Aren’t these craft ideas cool for some poolside fun for the whole family? The Box Town is where you can let your family go crazy and pitch in out-of-the-box designs alongside the craziest ones your toddler comes up with.