Looking for an easy indoor toddler activity? Try building a simple pom pom drop – it’s STEM, fine motor skills, and uses up the toilet paper tubes you’ve been saving. This post includes tips for creating this activity and information on what kids are learning.
Build a simple pom pom drop to entertain your toddler
Need a quick and easy toddler activity? Build a simple pom pom drop out of recycled supplies! This no-fuss activity will keep your toddler happy, busy, and wonderfully entertained. Trust me—it’s the best (and the easiest!).
I’ll admit, I used to see pom pom drops all over Pinterest and dismiss them as too much work to set up. WRONG. Wrong wrong wrong on so many levels. This was definitely an “easy peasy lemon squeezy” type of activity.
Let me show you how it works—and why your toddler will love it as much as mine did!
RELATED: Looking for more indoor activities that are fantastic for littles? Check out my popular list!
Why make a pom pom drop?
A pom pom drop is more than just a simple activity. It’s secretly building your child’s:
- Fine motor skills: All that grabbing, pinching, and pushing!
- Hand-eye coordination: Watching the pom poms drop and aiming them into the tubes.
- STEM thinking: Exploring angles, gravity, and cause-and-effect.
Plus, it’s pure fun. My toddler was hooked the second we started building it.
Looking for more structure each day?
Check out Playing Preschool: Busy Toddler’s 190-day at-home activities program
Materials
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- Paper towel and toilet paper tubes
- Tape: I used electrical tape, but painter’s tape works too
- Pom pom balls*
- Optional: Plastic tongs for an added challenge
- Bonus: A board or flat surface for portability (totally optional!)
This activity has a lot of wiggle room – yours will not look exactly like mine. Doing this on the wall or on a flat cardboard box is also a great option.
*Remember that pom pom balls are a choking hazard. Use excellent judgement and supervision when determining if pom pom balls are safe for your child.
RELATED: I have 15 activity supplies that I use constantly on repeat. See my list of must-haves.
How to set up this easy toddler activity
- Choose Your Surface:
- I used an old wooden board because it made the pom pom drop portable (and kept my walls tape-free). But taping the tubes directly to the wall with painter’s tape works great, too! Check out this construction paper pom pom drop over at Toddler Approved.
- Attach the Tubes:
- Tape the tubes onto your surface in different angles and sizes. Go for variety—this keeps the activity exciting.
- Set Up a Catching Zone:
- Place bowls, Tupperware containers, or bins at the bottom to catch the pom poms.
- Let Your Toddler Take Over:
- Bring out the pom poms and watch the fun begin!
How pom pom drop went for us
My toddler wasn’t entirely sure what we were building at first, which kept him super engaged. Once we brought out the pom poms, he was psyched.
My original plan was for him to use plastic tongs to drop the pom poms through the tubes (fine motor practice, right?). His plan? To shove as many pom poms as possible into the tubes at once.
And honestly? That was fine with me. It’s his activity, after all. He thought it was hilarious to push the pom poms through in fistfuls, and I loved watching him figure out new ways to play.
A Bonus for Younger Siblings
Even my 13-month-old joined the fun! Since pom poms aren’t baby-friendly (she’s a convicted pom pom eater), we used Matchbox cars instead. She loved dropping the cars through the tubes while sitting with me—it turned into a sweet little 1-on-1 moment.
Why we love this toddler activity
This simple pom pom drop was a hit with our whole family. Just look at all the reasons to love it:
- Took minutes to set up.
- Kept my toddler busy for days.
- Even entertained the baby.
The best part? It lasted long enough to get us through the pre-nap cranky phase, and when the tubes started getting pulled off the board, it became a whole new activity.
Susie Allison, M. Ed
Owner, Creator
Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie’s parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.
