Pom pom challenge using a straw and tape

If you ever need a quick and simple activity to keep the kids busy, set up a pom pom challenge using a straw and tape. It’s great fun for kids of all ages and something children can do independently or as a group. 

Don’t you just love those activities that keep the kids entertained for ages? Well here you go. This one is perfect to do in any weather. It’s great because children can do it with siblings or by themselves.  

Recommended ages: 3 years + 
(Active supervision is required on all activities and games shared) 

Pom pom challenge using a straw and tape

The purpose of this challenge is for children to use the straw and blow a pompom along the tape from one end to the other. This challenge needs only a few pieces and you can literally set up in less than a minute. Your kids are ready to play in next to no time. You’ll need – 

• Pom poms (or similar)
• Tape 
• Straw

On a large board I created various tracks using the masking tape. You can stick the tape on a wooden floor, but be confident the tape will not cause any damage. I made each track include corners and differ in length. If you have different coloured tape then you can create different paths and make some more challenging than others. These can also be used for racing competitions. To increase a difficulty I made each track longer, included more corners and have shorter distances between corners. Obviously to suit the age of your child, if you’re simplifying the track use less corners and longer stretches of track.

Now your child is ready to play AND LEARN! 

Using the straw, encourage your child to blow the pompom along the track and reach the other end. Any occupational therapist that works with children will tell you how beneficial getting children to learn how to blow through a straw is for developing language etc.

Children quickly discover they need to gauge the intensity of their breath through the straw and consider the angle of the straw to keep the pompom on the track. It’s wonderful watching the trial and error happen in those first few minutes. 

To simplify this for young children you might like to have them use a bendable straw.  This made it easier for Possum (aged 4 years) because she could change the angle of the straw easier rather than moving her body to angle and straight straw.  

The larger pompom was also helpful for Possum (4 years old) as it created a larger surface and moving the pompom was easier. It was also helpful having a fluffy pompom as it didn’t move as quickly.

Honestly, this is a super simple activity that you can easily put together in just a few minutes and have the kids playing for hours. They can certainly play individually or with friends and do pompom races. I added my tape to a board so that I could easily take it out and put it away as needed. 

You might also like this activity because of how well it can me made to suit your child’s skill level. As they master one track, they can move on to the other. If they get a little bored of the current tracks you’ve made, you can pull them up and create new ones. Seriously awesome, right? 

What other quick and easy games do you play?

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