Pom-poms - Page 4 of 13

Pool Noodle Pincer Pillars

Steps:

Adult Step: Carefully use scissors to cut the pool noodle into four or five round discs.
Have your child place the foam discs flat on a sturdy table or the floor.
Ask your child to push one golf ball tee into the center of each foam disc.
Provide the tweezers and a small bowl of colorful pom-poms for the next part.
Challenge your child to use the tweezers to pick up one pom-pom at a time.
They must carefully balance the pom-pom on the very top of the golf ball tee.
For an extra challenge, ask them to move the whole disc to a new spot.
They must be very gentle so the pom-pom stays on its pillar during the move!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required because golf ball tees have pointed ends. Ensure your child stays seated and uses the materials only for the activity.

Baking Cup Parachute Drop

Steps:

Help your child use a hole puncher to make four holes around the edge of a paper baking cup.
Cut four pieces of yarn, each about six inches long.
Show your child how to thread one piece of yarn through a hole and tie a simple knot.
Repeat this for all four holes until the cup has four strings hanging down.
Gather the ends of the yarn and use masking tape to stick them onto a pom-pom.
Hold the parachute high and let it go to watch it float to the ground!

Safety Tip:
Small pom-poms can be a choking hazard. Please keep them out of the reach of younger siblings and supervise your child closely.

Noodle Notch Shelf Build

Steps:

Use the scissors to cut a pool noodle into pieces about as long as a ruler.
Hold the noodle piece firmly with your non-cutting hand.
Snip three or four horizontal slits into the side of the foam.
Squeeze the handles together to make sure the scissors cut deep enough.
Slide a wooden craft stick halfway into each of the new slits.
Make sure the sticks are tight so they act like tiny shelves.
Use your thumb and pointer finger to pick up a soft pom-pom.
Carefully place the pom-pom onto the flat end of a craft stick.
See if you can fill all the shelves without any falling off!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors. Ensure the pom-poms are not placed in the mouth as they can be a choking hazard.

Heavy Anchor Cup Clip

Steps:

Use markers to decorate 4 or 5 paper cups. Draw colorful faces or stripes on the outside.
Place the heavy bean bag flat onto a stable surface like a table or the floor.
Ask your child to press down firmly on the bean bag with their helper hand to stabilize it.
Use the dominant hand to pick up a clothespin. Squeeze it open using a strong finger pinch.
Aim the open clothespin and clip one paper cup onto the side of the resistant bean bag. The bag should hold the cup securely.
Repeat the squeezing and clipping action until all the decorated cups are attached to the heavy anchor.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Clothespins and small pom-poms (if used) are small objects. They pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Foam Spike Pom-Pom Insert

Steps:

Secure the foam sheet firmly onto a piece of construction paper using masking tape. This stabilizes the work surface.
Use a marker to draw 10 to 15 short, straight lines (these are your ‘spike’ targets) randomly across the foam sheet’s surface.
Challenge your child to hold the foam steady with their helper hand. Use child-safe scissors to snip along each drawn marker line. Squeezing through the resistant foam requires strong effort!
Pick up one pom-pom using a precise pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Carefully aim the soft pom-pom at one of the newly snipped slits. Use controlled force to push the pom-pom halfway into the slit, turning the foam into a colorful, spiky cushion.
Repeat this inserting action until the entire foam surface is covered in pom-pom ‘spikes’.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required when using scissors. Ensure that the child uses the scissors only for cutting the foam. Small pom-poms are used in this activity and pose a potential choking hazard for young children. Collect all small materials immediately after play.