Isabelle loves pom poms. I can't even remember where we got the pom poms she play with, but what I do know is that they are, without a doubt, the most played with item she has. They are out every single day, and the very first activity we did as part of our 50 day challenge was with our pom poms - a ball drop and relocation.While we were in Tesco a few weeks ago I spotted a great little tray with lots of cups in it. It's intended purpose is to hold paint, but I thought we could use it in lots of different ways for lots of different activities. Yesterday and today, it has joined the pom poms in being the star of the show. I did absolutely nothing for this activity, except to pass her the tray and set it on the table. Other than that, it was all Isabelle-led.
This activity was an excellent example of her transportation schema behavior. This website has lots of lovely information on toddler schemas, and Isabelle is most definitely displaying the characteristics of the transportation schema. That means she loves to:
* move items from place to place
* carry items about
* fill containers
* give items to people
That description is Isabelle to a tee, and is why this type of activity is so perfect for her. She took the pom poms out of the different cups and set them on the table. Then they went back in again. The cups came out and pom poms were poured between cups. The cups went back in. The cups went to the storage unit, and back again. Simon and I were each given a pom pom, then a cup. She returned to
the table and started again...moving the pom poms from place to place.
She played yesterday for around 20 minutes while we Skyped granny and grandad, and played again today for around 20 minutes. She becomes totally engrossed in this activity, moving the pom poms gets her full attention to the point that she pokes her little tongue out as she concentrates. It is amazing to see such a tiny child have so much focus on what is such a seemingly mundane, random task. It obviously meets the needs of her development at the minute, and provides her with the stimulation she needs while being just wonderful for her fine motor skills. It is truly amazing.
Today, she combined the activity with her tea set. Her favorite phrase at the minute is "Mummy, cup of tea?"She yells it at any point, but she loves it most when she can give us a cup of tea that she lovingly prepares. So, along with the pom poms, she then started making tea and moving the cups around to give to us, put on the shelf and pour her 'sugar' into the cups. It was great to see her extend the initial activity in this way, and to join together things which an adult wouldn't necessarily think 'go' together.
This activity just highlights to me how toddlers do not need the mounds of plastic, noisy junk that parents tend to acquire. Isabelle can amuse herself for much longer with this type of activity than she would with most of her toys. As I mentioned, the pom poms are the most played with 'toy' Isabelle has, and really the only thing that she plays with every single day. I said a few activities ago that watching Isabelle enjoy these more simple activities and materials has really made me rethink the toys that she is getting for Christmas, and a whole load of things have been struck off as I just don't think they will meet her current needs as much as a more simple, and much cheaper, second bag of pom poms!
