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Pom-Pom Match and Balance Activity
- Learning Resources Posted On Oct 1, 2021 | 2-4 Years Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are so important for toddlers and preschoolers. Working to strengthen the small muscles in their hands enables them to have the motor strength and control to begin writing when it is developmentally appropriate for them to do so. Fine motor activities are really easy to set up and can be lots of fun to complete. You can head to the Learning Resources Blog Motor Skills page to find a whole host of ideas, or you can keep reading to find out more about this fun and straightforward activity involving balancing pom poms using tools.
What you need:
- Learning Resources® fine motor tools (we used the Handy Scoopers™ and Squeezy Tweezers™ which come in the Helping Hands Set™, as well as the Primary Science® Jumbo Tweezers™)
- Something fun to balance the pom-poms on. We used SQUIGZ, but you could use an egg carton, bottle cap lids, or even a muffin tin.
- Pom-poms can be fun to use different sizes for extra sorting skill development.
Let’s Get Set Up
This one takes just a few minutes to set up. I stuck the suction SQUIGZ toys to our table. I then placed a selection of the same colored pom-poms into a bowl and put out the Learning Resources fine motor tools. If you are unsure which tools are best for your child, this Fine Motor Tool Comparison blog might help you! If your child is younger, I’d recommend trying the activity first without the tools so that they can build confidence. Once they’ve mastered balancing the pom poms with their hands, choose an easy tool for them to try.
Match & Balance
The idea with this setup is to let your child attempt to balance the pom poms on top of the stalks. My four-year-old naturally decided to try and match the pom-pom's color to the stalk's color, which added a nice extra sorting element to the activity.
She chose to use the Squeezy Tweezers first, scooping up a pom-pom and then placing it on the suction pad. This tool was somewhat challenging to use as the pom-pom tended to roll off the stalk quite easily. I love that she persevered, though, and got one to balance.
She then tried the Jumbo Tweezers, which were much easier for her hand to manage. She enjoyed getting to add different colors and sizes of pom-poms, being super careful not to knock any off as she added more. It took lots of focus and a surprising amount of gross motor control and fine motor control. She had to reach over and balance her core to get to the stalks at the back of the table.
Exploring with Trial & Error
I love it when a fine motor skill setup develops into further play, especially when it is child-driven and based on a strong sense of intrigue. My preschooler wanted to see if she could get the pom-poms to balance on the sides of the SQUIGZ and not just the tops. She spent time experimenting using the different tools and, in the end, decided that she needed to build a big structure to try and balance as many pom-poms on as possible. I loved watching her having to problem solve through a process of trial and error. She tried using the tools in new ways, all the time working her fine motor skills hard.
Do you enjoy fine motor activities frequently with your children? We’d love to know what their favorite one is!
Writer’s Bio
Lucy Baker is a Mom of two (4 & 8 years old) passionate about creative play and hands-on learning. She firmly believes in providing children with the opportunity to learn through play and being part of their play journey as a parent. See more of her creative play ideas and process art projects on Instagram @findthelittlemind, and over on her blog, Find the Little Mind.
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Keep the learning going all summer long with our free activities at Camp Learning Resources and earn your merit badges! Print and color your merit badges as you follow our weekly learning activities!
The Benefits of Coloring:
Coloring is not only a fun activity, but it also has many benefits for children, including:
- Development of fine motor skills: Coloring requires using small muscles in the hands and fingers, helping to develop fine motor skills.
- Improves focus and concentration: Coloring can help children focus and concentrate on a specific task, which can be helpful for their academic performance.
- Reduces stress and anxiety: Coloring can be a calming activity, helping reduce stress and anxiety in children and adults.
Encourage your child to use their favorite colors and get creative with their coloring. You can also use this printable to talk about springtime and narwhals, teaching your child about nature and animals. The Printable Spring Narwhal Coloring Page from Learning Resources is an excellent activity for children of all ages. It promotes the development of fine motor skills, improves focus and concentration, and helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Download the printable today and encourage your child to get creative with their coloring, spending quality time together as a family.
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