The Bear’s Candy Box
Invite your baby to drop pom-poms into a box and pour them out again. Playful sounds and small changes keep the repeated hand movements interesting.
- 9 months
- Some prep
- At home
- About 5 minutes
Developmental benefits
- Movement：Repeatedly placing pom-poms in a container, pouring them out, and reaching for them gives your baby practice coordinating their eyes and hands and controlling small movements.
- Cognitive：Changing the container and the challenge helps your baby stay curious and continue exploring the same action in a new way.
Preparation
What You’ll Need
- 1
Several pom-poms, an open-top box, and a narrow-mouth container
Step 1
Feed the Bear Some Candy
Pretend that the pom-poms are candy for a bear. Drop one into the box and add a funny sound to catch your baby’s attention. When they come closer, encourage them to place the pom-poms in one at a time.
What to notice
- Comes to see what is happening after hearing your playful sound
Attending and Understanding - Copies you by placing a pom-pom in the box
Imitation and Symbolic Representation and Play
Tips
- Add a playful “plop” or “boop” each time your baby drops in a pom-pom.
- At nine months, babies often enjoy putting objects in and taking them out. Watching each object move supports skills related to #C-EMT.
- Respond when your baby succeeds so the shared moment encourages another try.
Step 2
Pour Them Out and Start Again
After your baby has dropped in a few pom-poms, give them time to explore. They may lift the box and pour everything out. Invite them to feed the bear again and repeat the in-and-out game.
What to notice
- Puts pom-poms in the box and pours them out again
Fine Motor - Repeatedly puts in and pours out pom-poms while you play nearby
Cognitive Self-Regulation (Executive Functioning)
Tips
- Putting the pom-poms in and pouring them out gives repeated practice with skills related to #PMP-FiM.
- Turning the box over and watching the pom-poms fall also supports skills related to #C-EnD.
Step 3
Feed the Kitten Too
Once your baby can place pom-poms in the open box, offer a container with a smaller opening, such as a jar. The new fit creates a fresh challenge while keeping the familiar game interesting.
What to notice
- Keeps trying to put pom-poms into the jar
Initiative and Curiosity - Places a pom-pom into a container with a smaller opening Fine Motor
Tips
- As your baby becomes more skillful, try containers with progressively smaller openings and let them explore how each one changes the action.
- Watch your baby’s interest and adjust the container or difficulty when the game becomes too easy or frustrating.
- If the new container is difficult, guide one pom-pom in together. Offer less help after the motion becomes familiar.
Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026