Little Lifeguard

20 min · $3-8 · Easy

Red tee, whistle, and a rescue buoy made from a pool noodle ring: an everyday hero costume.

Open this costume in Pick My Costume

DIY this week — ~$3-8, 20 min

• Buy the whistle, pool noodle, and white duct tape.
• Cut the pool noodle with the scissors and curve it into a ring.
• Wrap 4 white tape bands evenly around the ring so it reads as a rescue buoy.
• Wear the red tee and shorts and carry the buoy over one shoulder.
• Dab the white face paint stripe across the nose.

Tip: write LIFEGUARD across the back of the tee with the white duct tape in block letters. Back lettering is what strangers read first.

You need

• Red t-shirt, 1 (own, or buy: thrift store)
• Plastic whistle on a lanyard, 1 (buy: dollar store or party store)
• Pool noodle, 1 (buy: dollar store)
• White duct tape, 1 roll (buy: dollar store)
• Red shorts or swim trunks, 1 pair (own)
• White face paint stick for the nose stripe, 1 (buy: craft store)
• Scissors, 1 pair

Steps

1. Buy the whistle, pool noodle, and white duct tape. Pull the red tee and shorts from the closet.
2. Cut the pool noodle with the scissors and curve it into a ring, taping the ends together with the white duct tape. An adult should do the cutting: pool noodles need firm pressure.
3. Wrap 4 white tape bands evenly around the ring so it reads as a rescue buoy.
4. Safety: the whistle is a photo prop the parent holds and brings out for pictures, not a blow-all-night toy. The buoy is a costume prop, not a flotation device. Keep the lanyard short so it cannot catch on anything.
5. Wear the red tee and shorts and carry the buoy over one shoulder. The parent keeps the whistle and hands it over for photos.
6. Dab the white face paint stripe across the nose.
7. Optional pro finish: write LIFEGUARD across the back of the tee with the white duct tape in block letters. Back lettering is what strangers read first.

Common questions

How do you make the pool noodle ring stay round?

Cut the noodle ends at an angle so they meet in a clean joint, then wrap the joint with 3 layers of duct tape. The tape joint is stronger than the foam.

Is a real whistle too loud for a kid costume?

One toot at a time is the rule. Party-store whistles are plenty loud; skip the metal coach whistles.

Open this costume in Pick My Costume

Want one picked for you? Take the 2-minute quiz - free, no signup.