Pom-poms - Page 6 of 13

Pom-Pom Skewer Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Secure a thick piece of cardboard firmly onto the inside of the plastic container lid using glue. This creates a stable, resistant base for planting.
Place the Q-Tips and pom-poms in separate containers. Ask your child to hold one pom-pom steady with their helper hand to stabilize it.
Challenge your child to pick up a Q-Tip using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Encourage them to push the Q-Tip straight through the middle of the resistant pom-pom. They need controlled force to do this without bending the Q-Tip.
Once the pom-pom is skewered, hold the container base steady with the helper hand.
Aim the Q-Tip stick and push it firmly into the resistant cardboard base to create a colorful, dense forest of pom-poms.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Q-Tips and small pom-poms are choking hazards for children under five. Ensure materials are not placed in the mouth, nose, or ears.

Clothespin Weight Tower

Steps:

Place the foam sheet flat on a stable table. Put the pom-poms and clothespins into the container nearby.
Show your child how to use one hand to firmly hold the foam sheet steady on the table. This is the helper hand.
Use the working hand to squeeze open one clothespin. Carefully clip one pom-pom securely inside the open pin.
Clip the weighted clothespin firmly onto the edge of the foam sheet. Encourage placing the clips close together.
Once all pom-poms are clipped on, challenge your child to carefully lift the foam sheet using their fingertips. Can they carry the sheet without dropping the weighted clips?

Safety Tip:
Clothespins and pom-poms are small items. Constant, direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity to prevent choking hazards.

Stick Drop Loader

Steps:

Ask an adult to cut a small, sturdy rectangle from the cardboard. Use scissors to cut 4 to 6 very tight, narrow slits (about 1 inch long) across the cardboard surface.
Place the cardboard target vertically against a wall or laid flat on the table. Place the pom-poms and craft sticks nearby.
Challenge your child to pick up one pom-pom using only their thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp).
Carefully hold the pom-pom and push one end of the craft stick into it until the pom-pom is firmly loaded onto the tip of the stick. This is tricky!
Hold the cardboard steady with the helper hand. Use the dominant hand to aim and push the loaded craft stick straight through the resistant slot.
The goal is to feel the push and send the loaded stick completely inside the target. Repeat until all the slots are full.

Safety Tip:
Craft sticks are small and pom-poms are choking hazards. Constant, direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity.

Cactus Needle Push

Steps:

Press the Theraputty firmly into the bottom of the container. This creates a stable, resistant ‘desert floor’ for your cactus garden.
Break the dry spaghetti into short, 2-inch pieces. Breaking the spaghetti gives the hands extra feedback and motor planning practice.
Hold the container steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to pick up one spaghetti piece (a ‘needle’).
Push the needle straight down into the putty. Encourage a strong, controlled push to insert it without breaking it.
Plant many needles close together to make a spiky cactus texture. Fill the entire putty surface!
Select a small pom-pom using your precise pincer grasp. Carefully place the pom-pom onto the top of a spaghetti needle to create a colorful ‘cactus flower’.

Safety Tip:
Spaghetti pieces are sharp when broken. Always supervise closely. Uncooked spaghetti, small pom-poms, and putty are choking hazards for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure all materials are collected immediately after play.

Pocket Post Office

Steps:

Roll the playdough into a thick, flat disc. Press it firmly into the bottom of the plastic container to create a stable base.
Stand 6 to 8 craft sticks up vertically by pushing them deep into the playdough base. Arrange the sticks close together to create narrow ‘pockets’ between them (these are the mail slots).
Put the pom-poms (the ‘mail’) into a small bowl and place them next to the container.
Use your thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp) or a pair of tongs to pick up one piece of mail at a time.
Hold the container steady with your helper hand. Carefully aim the mail into one of the narrow pockets between the sticks.
Use a strong, controlled push to send the mail deep into the playdough pocket. Repeat this until all the pockets are full!

Safety Tip:
Pom-poms and craft sticks are small objects. Maintain constant adult supervision during this activity, as these materials pose a choking hazard for children under five.