A Fun Twist on an Old Classic: Pom Pom Rescue and Sort

It’s time to bust out a classic activity and give it a little facelift. Hello, pom pom rescue & sort – a sweet little activity for toddlers and preschoolers.

RELATED: Looking for more easy activities with toddlers? Try this list!

Pom pom rescue and sort is actually really easy to set-up

I’m always a fun of activities for kids that are easy peasy.

I don’t like long supply lists.

I don’t like fancy set-ups.

I know there are other blogs that put together activities just screaming for Pinterest to love them, but let’s be honest: kids don’t need Pinterest fancy.

Kids don’t need fancy to have fun.

(Remember, this is a group of people entertained by a cardboard box…).

Let’s get to that supply list and set-up:

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I know that list looks long but these are part of the basic supplies that I HIGHLY recommend having on hand. You can literally do 100s of activities with these supplies.

RELATED: HERE’S ANOTHER LIST OF GREAT INDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS.

It only takes a minute to put the pom pom rescue and sort together.

Grab your dish pan and fill it with some water. I dyed mine blue so you could see it in the photos. This helps the pom poms float – makes them easier to pick up. Don’t worry – they’ll dry and I’ll explain how next.

Next, add a web of tape across the top. Think thoughtfully about this – you don’t want your spaces to be so small that your child can get the pom poms out.

Put the dish pan into the bin to contain any mess. Next to the bin, set the colored bowls.

Your child’s job: rescue the pom poms and sort them into the colored bowls.

This is HARD WORK for little hands

Those tongs are not easy to use – my kids were between 2-3 years old when they were able to make that open/shut motion.

My son worked so hard to pull out those pom pom balls and drop them in the correct colored bowl.

It’s simple but challenging – and it was perfect.

RELATED: TRY THIS VERSION OF THE ACTIVITY – WHERE YOUR CHILD CAN RESCUE PAW PATROLLERS!

Working with tongs is a GREAT way to grow hand strength that your child will need for future handwriting skills.

It is complicated to find the right angle and to use the plastic tongs to grab with.This is exactly the kind of work out their hands need.

RELATED: Wondering about your child’s handwriting? Check out this post from an OT on the progression of handwriting skills.

Here’s how to dry the pom poms once you’re done

Put the pom pom balls 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. Pom pom balls take a few runs in the dryer to dry – but it does work!! The pom poms can get wet and be used again.

Pom pom rescue and sort is perfect for learning and play

It’s just the right amount of challenge and fun for kids.