All parents know that their kids' favorite toys are not the ones that cost the most or are even the most beautiful. Ohdeedoh reader, Kathy, staved off a potential "toddler meltdown" at a Michael's store with a $5 bag of pom-poms that have since become her daughter's favorite thing to play with.
Kathy writes: Who knew they would end up being one of her favorite and longest lasting toys...Everyday she asks to play with her Fluffies (that's what we call them). She throws them around and puts them in containers and transfers them to other containers with plastic spoons and on and on. She never seems to get tired of them. I hope she will have fun sorting the colors and sizes when she gets a little older.
As Kathy notes, the clean-up can be annoying (and these would not be good in a home with infants or pets prone to eating small items): The only down side to fluffies is you have to pick them up. There's always one that escapes and looks at me from under the couch the next morning. But that's OK. We love our fluffies.
Visit Kathy at her blog, Laowai and see adorable videos of her daughter, Bea, under attack from the "fluffy cannon."
© 2010 Apartment Therapy
The egg crate is a good idea! Bonus points: little toys that don't *hurt* when you step on them.
view lizzapearl's profile
When I was young I shoved a "fluffy" so far up my nose that my parents had to take me to the hospital to have it removed. Apparently the nurses had to take turns trying to get it out because they were laughing so hard every time I said "I stuck a fuffy up my nose". Sure...they're soft...but they'll get ya!
view jfolkmann's profile
I actually just blogged about this yesterday: http://meamom.blogspot.com/2008/11/pom-poms.html
I introduced pom poms when my daughter was 19 months old and she loves them as well. We use a muffin tin to sort them.
I don't know how old this little girl is but I bet if the mom puts one of each color into a muffin tin compartment, she'd catch on. Kids can rise to the occassion with the right environment.
Poms are also great for teaching scooping and transfering. You can get a little kids size scoop at the container store.
In terms of mess, we take a page out of the montessori playbook and use a work mat. My daughter knows she is expected to keep them on the mat. We just recently started doing them at her little table and she's required to keep them on there as well.
In terms of clean up, I have my daughter do it, not because I'm lazy but because cleaning up her "work" inspires self-confidence and teaches her a sense of order.
view meamom's profile
I remember when I was about 6 or 7, my mom bought me a bunch of "fluffies" including sparkly ones, tongue depressers, googley eyes, and some glue. I loved them. even w/o the glue I was entertained.
view kpag's profile
haha I buy giveaways for my company and we recently ordered these in a few animal varieties with sticky feet. They were a huge hit at the trade show so apparently, we don't grow out of this stage!
view Enamorada's profile
i should say a huge hit with ADULTS in a professional field at the trade show!
view Enamorada's profile
j folkmann you just cracked me up... sthat story is not just a winner w/the nurses weilding needleNOSE tweezers.
view roxtarchic's profile
I remember a post awhile back were a mother threw a Asian themed birthday party were one of the games was trying to pick up "fluffies" with chopsticks. Fluffies Chopsticks Eggcarton could equal a whole afternoon of fun.
view kgoodman80's profile
We love fluffies, too, especially in an empty egg carton. Might have to get them out after nap time ...
view pennycarnival's profile
Great idea! We're taking a long (20 HOUR!) car trip for Thanksgiving and I'll definitely be buying some "fluffies" for my sweetie boy to play with in the car. Thanks for sharing this!!
view craftylildevil's profile