October 23, 2025
Meet Pom Pom Popper! This addition to my Therapy Bag may be little, but comes with big results.
What do you get when you combine a toilet paper roll, a balloon, and a pom pom? MAGIC. I first saw the idea on Instagram @celinakinsey. It looked like so much fun so I tried it…and tried it again. From toddlers to preschoolers, the pom pom popper brought out so much fun! It encouraged the power of imitation, incorporating both novelty and LOTS of repetition (which happens to be the secret sauce for learning new skills).
This week I introduced the pom pom popper to a 22 month old toddler, his mom, and grandmother. Each person was given their own popper. Between singing “Pop goes the Weasel” and modeling the word “pop” many, many times, my little friend first learned to make the pom poms shoot into the air and madly clap for himself in excitement. THEN the light bulb went off and a connection was made: “POP!” My little friend with language delays and limited verbal imitation skills learned an important lesson: “Using my voice is FUN!” This learning was reinforced by an eruption of clapping and enthusiastic praise from his family and me. I invite you to give it a try!
In the words of Seth Godin in The Practice, “The path forward is about curiosity, generosity and connection…Human connection is exponential, it scales as we create it, weaving together culture and possibility where none used to exist.”
Let’s connect with our littlest friends, be curious and generous in offering materials to help families support and bring joy to their children.
Have a great rest of your week!