Need a quick boredom buster? Try this pom pom grab and drop activity!

I’m convinced that pom pom ball have magical powers. What is it about those little balls of fluff that get our toddlers all spun up? Bringing out a bag of pom pom balls at my house might as well be ringing the dinner bell out on the prairie. The kids come running!

That’s why I love using pom pom balls in toddler activities because it makes for an easy hook: toddlers are instantly down with whatever activity is about to be thrown their way. Kind of like how my daughter (2.5) was pacing as I set up this super easy pom pom grab and drop activity.

It’s all about the simple things, baby.

Trust me: sometimes the simplest activities are the best activities (especially when pom pom balls are included). Like this one time when we tossed all the pom pom balls in the bath tub…you’ll have to check that one out. It was one of our finer moments.

So even though my daughter was asking me 47 questions every 32 seconds before 8 am, I knew I could calm her mind, get her quieted down, and give myself a second to breath. I just need a quick and easy toddler activity.

That’s when I saw the pom pom balls and I just knew.

Kind of like when you just “know” you’ve found your wedding dress. I just “knew” that I had found the right activity for my daughter that morning and that by gosh, I was going to have a cup of hot coffee.

Materials:
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• pom pom balls
• plastic tongs
• empty container – I used one for coffee creamer

Because my daughter knows her way around a set of tongs, she was good to go on this activity right away – she just needed Mom to get out of the way and stop taking photos of the set up.

If your toddler is new to tongs, make sure to model how to use them. Tongs can be frustrating the first few tries. Encourage, encourage, encourage, but if your tot isn’t ready for them – let them use their fingers. Exercising and practicing their pinching skills is just as important.

Make sure your toddler is out of the “chubby bunny” phase with pom pom balls and isn’t going to try and eat them. My 2.5 year old is safe with these but I don’t trust my 13 month old to be in the same county as them.

Simple, sure. Full of learning, you betcha.

This pom pom grab and drop might look simple.
It might look ho-hum.
Maybe a touch mundane.

Here’s the thing: There’s so much learning happening in this activity.

• Practicing fine motor skills
• Working on hand-eye coordination
• Learning spatial awareness
• Using problem solving skills when things don’t go right the first time

A little activity like this can go a long way!

Good news: I got to drink my coffee hot.

My daughter loved this. She loved it all the way to finishing it – got every last pom pom ball into the container. Coincidentally, I got every last drop of coffee into my mouth while I hung back and watched her work.

Best part is: she dumped the container out and started again. I love an activity that toddlers can start on their own.

This pom pom grab and drop ended up being a smash hit. No surprise there – the whole activity was based on pom pom balls. Those little fluffs of wonder do it again and make for some easy activity magic.

Will you try this pom pom grab and drop at your house?