Make frozen pom pom balls– they’re it’s’re amazing. This unique outdoor activity is perfect for summer days with kids. Grab water, pom poms, and an ice cube tray: this summer activity is memorable.
What is a frozen pom pom balls activity?
It’s an activity where you make pom pom ball ice cubes because (and this is the big part):
- You can freeze pom pom balls (insert shocked face)
- And you can REUSE the pom pom balls (the water and the freezing doesn’t ruin them).
I feel like I’ve had a long love affair with pom pom balls in my tenure of activities and this is information I wish I’d had years ago.
But at least I know it now and I can share it with you.
RELATED: Looking for more outdoor summer activities? I have tons! Check out this list.
Materials
Busy Toddler is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
- Pom pom balls
- Ice cube trays
- Various sensory supplies (bins, cups, containers, etc)
THIS WAS SO EASY.
I put two pom pom balls into each slot of the ice cube tray, added water and froze them. THAT’S IT. Seriously, it’s nothing fancy in the set up. It’s so easy.
Set this activity up for future you
The next time you have a free second (I know, I know) make these up as a gift for Future You.
Future Susie thought to make frozen pom pom balls one day and a week later, the morning had gone belly up and we needed some help with our outside play.
So I grabbed the frozen pom pom balls, thanked Past Susie for the win, and set up this activity in a hot second.
RELATED: What are the best outdoor toys for kids? I have the best list for ages 1-10.
How to play with frozen pom pom balls
I didn’t tell my kids how to play with the frozen pom pom balls.
Instead, I gave them some cups, containers, warm water, and pipettes – and let the kids decide what to do.
They shook the pom poms in containers, make “potions,” melted them with water… it was imaginary + STEM play and it was FANTASTIC.
What are kids learning?
While we don’t need to justify or quantify activities, it’s always fun to see what kids might be learning when they play.
But remember, play (in and of itself) is learning.
In this activity, my kids were discovering and learning:
- Science exploration: understanding solids and liquids
- Cause and effect: What causes what?
- Sensory engagement: Exploring learning with senses
- Fine motor skills: Using hands for small movements
- Planning, trial and error: Making guesses and testing theories
How to dry pom pom balls
Using a colander, I smoosh out the pom pom balls with my hand, squeeze, and push out the extra water.
Then I put them into a pillow case and tied the end with the rubber band. TRUST ME: do not for get the rubber band. It’s happened here…
The pillow case full of pom poms goes into the dryer. Those poms take their drying time, but they come out relatively clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Remember to consider the child’s stage in life and their interests before age. Are they safe with pom pom balls? How do they do with ice? Would this interest them?
Pom pom balls are a major choking hazard so please think about your child and whether this activity is safe for them. Kids will be different ages when they are safe to use pom poms (but still with supervision). My kids were between 2 and 3.
We love our DIY water table. You can read the directions in my post.
Susie Allison, M. Ed
Owner, Creator
Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie’s parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.
Subscribe to my free newsletter and I’ll send you “35 Easy Toddler Activities to Break Up the Day!”
Leave a Comment