I had an idea to make an ice cream sensory bin, using pom poms, a melon-baller, and a 'cone' made from construction paper. I folded up the construction paper to make a cone-ish shape, and taped the bottom to keep it that way. Then I went through our collage bag to search for pom poms, which I found, but I also decided to through in balled up tissue paper, construction paper squares left over from an art project, and even some packing peanuts. The result was a very colorful sensory bin! Adding some scoopers and cups, I left everything out for Kay to find.
She sat down in front of the bin and dug right in. We played ice cream parlor, taking turns scooping the "ice cream" into the cone. I used the melon baller, hoping it would inspire her to do the same, but at first she just used the big spoon I put in there (note to self: don't include the big spoon next time, lol). Eventually I did see her scooping pom poms into the cone with the melon baller and I gave myself a mental high-five.
Next she started tossing the bin's contents in the air like confetti, yelling, "Happy Birthday!" I told her she could, as long as she was going to pick up the mess afterwards. I even joined in a couple of times, knowing I was going to be helping clean the mess anyway. (I think the reason throwing confetti is less fun for adults is because we think of the mess it's inevitably going to make, while kids just...don't.)
Eventually we scooped it up into the bin, but not before having...a pom pom fight! I'm not usually one to encourage throwing projectiles at people, especially me, but with pom poms an exception could be made.
As we were putting everything away at the end, I couldn't help but think that pom poms may be one of the most versatile materials ever!