Tissue box and Pom-Pom Fill and Spill Game

Filling and Spilling is a favorite activity for toddlers and is a great way to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Many children begin being interested in fill and spill activities around age one.

The best thing about fill and spill activities is that you can make them on the cheap. 

I am always looking for new "games" to make. They're especially great when Ethan needs to refocus his energy on a quiet activity that will hold his attention.

What you need:

• An empty square tissue box (remove the clear plastic from around the opening)
• Some pom-poms (I had some on hand that I had purchased for $1)
• Plastic spoons (optional: usage dependent on skill level)

The Game:

Version 1- Pour pom-poms all over the floor. Fill the box. Dump. Repeat. You can also try calling out the names of the colors as you play.

Version 2- Toddler rules. Let them make up their own game. Ethan created a game where he'd put the pom-pom on the edge of the box and nudge them in. Works for me.

Version 3- Balance a pom-pom on a spoon and use the spoon to dump the pom-pom into the box. This is a great way to add an extra level of challenge to the game, as well as work on spoon skills. It was difficult for Ethan at first, but after I showed him to keep the spoon flat, he did have some success (and more and more with practice), and was proud of his accomplishment.

Version 4- You hold the spoon. Toddler places the pom-pom on the spoon and helps you dump it into the box. Not as difficult as version 3, but still requires some extra fine motor skills. Ethan made up this version as well.

What versions of the game can you come up with?
Enjoy, and keep playing :)