Unlock Your Child’s Motor Skills with a Fun Montessori Activity: Pom Poms

Pom pom balls offer endless possibilities for learning activities! They can be used to help children learn colors, counting, sorting, and more, while at the same time having fun. With their bright and cheerful colors, pom pom balls provide an exciting and stimulating way to engage little ones and help them develop their skills.

Pom Poms

Suitable Age: 2 1/2+

Materials: A tray consisting of tongs and two bowls ( 1 empty, 1 filled with pom poms)

Direct Aim: to grasp each pom pom using the tongs, and deposit them into the second bowl

Indirect Aim:

• Refining muscles in the hand
• Concentration
• Hand-eye coordination
• Independence

Presentation/ Child instruction: 

1. Indicate where to place the tray on the table, between both the child and yourself.
2. Before picking up the tongs, visually show the child the three fingers which he will be using to hold the tongs properly.
3. Now pick up the tongs and show the child the same fingerwork
4. After a few pom poms have been picked up and properly placed into the second bowl, invite the child to try.
5. Once all pom poms have been placed into the second bowl, invite the child to try again if he wishes.
6. Regardless of the child’s answer, you will show the child how to turn the tray. This will bring the bowl consisting of the pom poms back to the left side of the child.

Point of interest:

The color and shape of the pom poms, the tongs, the beautiful glass bowls, and getting the tongs to open and close with three fingers.

Control of Error: 

• Grabbing the tongs too high or low (not opening or closing the tongs)
• Dropping the pom poms
• Unfinished activity
• Difficulty in properly grasping the pom poms with three fingers

>> Read more: Unlock Your Child’s Motor Skills with a Fun Montessori Activity: Marbles and Tongs