Play recipe
Cause and effect learning with visual tracking practice.
Secure tubes well. Pom poms can be choking hazard.
Dropping a pom pom in the top of a tube and watching it roll out the bottom is a toddler's first lesson in cause and effect: my action makes that happen. That is why a one- or two-year-old will repeat it dozens of times without getting bored.
Taping the tubes at a slight angle makes the pom pom roll rather than drop straight through, which stretches the watching-and-waiting into something more interesting. Pinching each pom pom into the narrow opening is quiet pincer-grasp practice.
Pinching pom poms into a narrow tube opening builds the pincer grasp toddlers later use to hold a crayon or a spoon.
You'll need: Paper cube or dice, Markers
You'll need: Music (phone or speaker), Clear floor space
You'll need: Clear floor space
You'll need: Magnifying glass (optional), Container for temporary observation, Nature area
You'll need: Blanket to lie on, Sunglasses (optional)
You'll need: Bag or bucket for collecting, Magnifying glass (optional)
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