
Pom-Pom Drop
Cardboard tubes taped to the wall, and pom-poms that vanish in at the top.
- Ages
- 15 mo–3 yrs
- Play
- 10–25 min
- Prep
- 5 min
- Mess
- barely any
- Energy
- calm
- Where
- anywhere
You’ll need
Mostly things you probably have at home.
- cardboard tubes
- painter's tapeDon’t have it? Amazon
- pom-pomsGet it on Amazon
Optional
- a bowl or muffin tin to catch themDon’t have it? Amazon
- kitchen tongsDon’t have it? Amazon
How to play
Before you start: Tape three or four cardboard tubes to a wall or door at different angles, low enough for them to reach the top one. Put a bowl at the bottom.
Drop one pom-pom in the top and wait. Watch the bowl together.
Hand them the pom-poms and let them post every one.
Ask where it went, and point at the bowl when it lands.
Move one tube so the pom-poms come out somewhere new.
Sort the caught pom-poms by color at the end.
What it helps with
Keep it safe
- Pom-poms are a choking risk for under-3s. Use large ones and stay within arm's reach.
Make it different next time
- Use tongs to pick each one up for extra fine motor work.
- Try other things down the tubes: a toy car, a balled sock.
Cleanup: Leave the tubes up for a day or two. They will come back to it.
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