This dreamy and inexpensive DIY miniature swimming pool project is a perfect way to encourage children’s imagination and curiosity while also promoting the reuse of materials and hands-on learning over summer break.
June came in hot this year – nine days over ninety and counting! It’s been one of those weeks when it’s hard to be outside unless you’re in a lake or pool.
Since I don’t have either in my backyard, I decided to beat the heat INSIDE…searching through our recycling bin for scraps I could use to build our very own DIY miniature swimming pool. Dreaming in miniature!
I was able to reuse the background from our summer playdough invitation and collaged pool art project (along with a cardboard box and plastic takeout food container) for this 3D swimming pool. And not only is it ridiculously adorable (and an inexpensive DIY play accessory), it’s absolutely perfect for summer small world play.
Even better…it’s waterproof (!!!), so kids can fill this mini pool with actual water. Because, on a hot day, there’s nothing more fun than adding real water, right?
Watch the short below for a little preview of our small world swimming pool in action…
This cool little escape is surrounded by simple ideas for mini DIY accessories to help bring your pool to life. Little pieces of scrap fabric make perfect peg doll towels, and landscaping is made with real branches, rocks, and moss (combined with tissue paper tree canopies and egg carton flowers).
How can you bring the outside in and decorate with found nature supplies? What kind of dream pool float would you make for your pool? We plan to add a diving board and snack stand to our summer small-world play setup – what else can you imagine?
Build the backdrop for imaginative summer small world play by crafting a cardboard city neighborhood, foldout city landscape, or chic mid-century-style DIY scrap wood beach dollhouse. Or round out your small-world play accessory collection with a diverse set of DIY peg people your kids can make themselves!
To make your own DIY miniature swimming pool you’ll need:
Note: We prefer to shop locally or use what we have at home, but this list contains Woodpeckers Crafts, Etsy, Blick Art Materials, Bookshop.org and/or Amazon affiliate links for reference. As affiliates (and Amazon Associates), we make a small commission on qualifying purchases.*
BASIC SUPPLIES:
- A cardboard box (if you don’t have something appropriate, white pizza boxes like these work perfectly)
- A clear plastic takeout container
- A piece of blue construction paper and a white crayon (for the pool bottom)
- Scissors (I use this kind for cutting cardboard and plastics)
- A hot glue gun
- Electrical tape
OPTIONAL SUPPLIES:
- Scrap cardboard and/or craft foam for details like the pool floats we added
- Popsicle sticks (if you’d like to add a ladder like ours)
- Wooden peg doll people like these
How to Make a Miniature Swimming Pool – DIY Instructions:
If you have a cardboard box and clear plastic takeout container, you too can make this miniature swimming pool for phenomenally cute summer small world play.
Gather your recycled supplies.
I recycled a plastic takeout container to create a pool that can hold real water. For the pool “foundation,” look for a cardboard box larger than your takeout container and a little more shallow than a shoebox, if possible (something closer to a pizza or pie box).
I had a white gift box that worked perfectly, but you can use any color. You can leave your box as is, cover it with paint, or stamp it with a small square stamp to create a tile pattern.
Trace around your takeout container on your cardboard box.
Center your takeout food container on the cardboard box (open side down). Use a pencil to trace around the outside of the container.
Cut the hole for your pool out of the top of the box.
Cutting about an eighth of an inch in from your pencil outline, use a utility knife or heavy scissors to cut a hole out of the top of your box. We’ll insert the takeout container into the hole, so you don’t want it to be cut wider than the sides of your plastic container!
Draw the paper pool bottom.
Just as we did for our paper pool art, use a white crayon or oil pastel to make a wobbly grid on a blue piece of cardstock or construction paper. This will give our pool that realistic, ready-for-swimming touch!
Glue the paper pool bottom to the underside of your takeout container.
Using a hot glue gun, glue the paper pool bottom to the OUTSIDE of your clear plastic container.
Insert your “pool” and cover all edges with strips of electrical tape.
Gently push your pool into the hole in the box, then use a strip or two of electrical tape along each edge to hold your pool in place.
Note: I used electrical tape because we’re going to fill our pool with actual water, so I wanted it to create a waterproof edge that would protect the cardboard and last through multiple play sessions. You can use masking tape or other kinds if you don’t have electrical tape around.
Add cute details (and water!).
Now it’s time to make this a pool party! Add people, pool floats (craft foam works well for those) background scenery – anything you want. Lastly, don’t forget to pour in a cup or two of water!
I am head over heels for this hip little swim spot. Don’t you just want to jump right in?! was running short on time, so our peg people are simple as can be, but for some adorable inspiration,
Five Ways to Play With Your Dollhouse Swimming Pool
1. Create a miniature city pool play setup.
Children can create a mini cardboard box city or fold-out cardboard book cityscape using recycled boxes and small figurines by building streets and buildings. They can also use the pool as a base for small-world play with painted peg dolls, miniature toy cars, and other accessories to act out different scenarios and stories, promoting social and emotional development, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.
2. Use your miniature pool with a DIY beach dollhouse.
For a beach-themed activity, make a DIY beach dollhouse or cardboard box dollhouse and set up a miniature pool party with dolls and miniature pool accessories. Surround the scene with homemade moon sand or sand playdough to create a small-world beach play setup that encourages sensory exploration and creativity. For a cute themed addition, visit the swimmer peg people the creative geniuses over at Mr. Printables made!
3. Create a fairy garden swimming pool.
Create a miniature fairy garden using small plants and flowers and add fairy houses, DIY gnome home, footbridges, peg doll fairies, and other accessories. Use the pool as a fairy swimming hole. This activity promotes nature appreciation and imagination while encouraging children to learn about different plants and flowers.
4. Turn your mini pool into a small-world pond.
Once finished with pool peg doll play, kids can use the pool for a small-world pond or lake and make a set of miniature sailboats or floating egg carton ducks. This activity promotes hand-eye coordination and encourages children to engage in imaginative play.
5. Build a small-world play campsite.
Using ideas from our DIY “Thingamaboard,” project as inspiration, construct a camping small world, complete with tents, sleeping bags, a campfire, miniature forest scenery, and cool pool, of course. This is more like peg doll glamping than camping.
Creating your own miniature swimming pool is an excellent way to keep your kiddos entertained and engaged during the summer months. Not only is this activity a fun way to beat summer boredom, but it also offers a STEAM-inspired opportunity for children to try their hand at a bit of building (and recycling) through play.
By using recycled materials such as cardboard and repurposing everyday objects such as plastic containers, children can develop their creativity and problem-solving skills while also learning about sustainability and the importance of recycling.
*A note about affiliate links: We strive to use simple, earth-friendly supplies that can be purchased locally whenever we can, but sometimes we find the best universally available options, a rare eco-friendly find, or a niche product only available on Blick Art Materials, Amazon, Etsy, or Woodpeckers Crafts. When included in our supply list, these products are affiliate links, and if you click through to make a purchase we receive a small commission that helps us re-order these supplies!
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I love seeing all the ways people make these ideas their own! If you're sharing the results of one of our projects, mention or tag me with @barleyandbirch, or share it in the comments of one of our Pinterest project pins.
