If you need a quick, low-prep activity that actually keeps kids engaged, this pom pom water sensory bin is it. It’s colorful, calming, and packed with simple learning—perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who love scooping, squeezing, and exploring.
This is one of those activities I come back to again and again. Just add water, toss in some pom poms, and watch what happens. Kids naturally start sorting by color, testing what sinks or floats, and building fine motor skills as they squeeze and transfer the pom poms from one container to another.
It’s easy to set up, easy to clean, and works for a wide range of ages. Whether you’re filling a quiet afternoon, setting up an invitation to play, or adding to your sensory rotation, this pom pom water bin is a simple win.
FAQ: Pom Pom Sensory Bins
- Are pom poms safe for toddlers in sensory bins?
Pom poms are great for sensory play, but always supervise closely—especially with younger toddlers who may still put items in their mouth. Choose larger pom poms when possible for added safety.
- What skills do kids learn with pom pom sensory bins?
This activity supports fine motor skills, color recognition, hand-eye coordination, and early science concepts like absorption and floating.
- Do pom poms sink or float in water?
At first, pom poms float—but as they absorb water, they slowly sink. This makes it a fun and simple science exploration for kids.
- How do you clean and reuse pom poms after water play?
Let them air dry on a towel or tray. Once fully dry, they can be reused for future sensory bins or crafts.
- What tools can you add to a pom pom water bin?
Add scoops, tongs, cups, spoons, or even a turkey baster for extra fine motor practice and extended play.
Looking for other Pom Poms in water activities? Check out this fun ideas:
- Pom Pom Number Scoop
- Pom Poms in the Water Table
- Frozen Pom Pom Soup
- Frozen Pom Poms
- Pom Pom in the Bath
READ MORE…How to Start Doing Activities with Your Kids
Supplies
- 41 Qt, Clear Sensory Bin (Large)
- Pom Poms
- Water
- Pitchers large and small
- Towels
- Handy Scooper
How to Set Up Pom Pom Water Sensory Bin
The set up for this sensory bin is very easy. Place all the pom poms you have (or as many as you wish to submerge into water) in a sensory bin and then add water.
My three year old convinced me to add all of our pom poms to the sensory bin. I don’t advocate this as the clean up is more. But it was a lot of fun for her and I had this sensory bin out for several days.
Add a few pitchers of different sizes. This will allow your little one to pour the pom pom water mix.
I also added some scoopers for a fine motor element. They have small holes that will drain the water and are great for scooping up the pom poms.
Make sure to add towels under the sensory bin in order to minimize the water clean up.
Total Hit
This was such a great hit with my three year old that she played with it for three days! After each time she played I removed the water (and dried the Pom Poms, see below). I added fresh water when she wanted to play with them again.
Drying your Pom Poms
Now you are asking yourself am I going to ruin my pom poms if I put them in water? And the answer is no! I just use regular pom poms that I purchased at a craft store. Dry the pom poms by using a towel to squeeze out all the water. Lay them out on a separate dry towel to dry and they are good to use again. And yes they are just as soft and fluffy and fun as before!
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
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Fun idea! Were you able to dry the pom poms and reuse them for something else? Or does the water damage them?
Yes absolutely you can dry the pom poms and reuse them. I’ve done a water and Pom Pom activity before. As long as you squeeze out the water and set them out to dry they are still good to use. Thanks for this question. I forgot to mention this in my post.