Shoe Box Lid Flip

What you need

• shoe box with a lid
• large pom-poms

How to do it

1. Set an empty shoe box in front of your toddler with a few large pom-poms inside. Anything that fits through a toilet roll tube is too small.
2. Show them putting the lid on, then turning the box over so the pom-poms tumble somewhere new.
3. Lift the lid together and see where each pom-pom landed.
4. Let them close, flip and open it themselves as many times as they like.

Why it matters

Closing a lid, flipping the box and lifting the lid again is a simple sequence toddlers can repeat and predict, the same steps behind opening any lidded container. The shoe box goes flat into the recycling once the game winds down.

What they're learning

Cause and effect

Flipping the box and finding the pom-poms moved is a clear, repeatable result.

Pincer grip

Picking a pom-pom up to put back inside trains a precise finger and thumb pinch.

Focus & persistence

Closing, flipping and opening again and again keeps them on the same small task.

What to look for

Watch for them shaking the box gently before opening it, testing what is happening inside.

A tip

Use only large pom-poms and stay close while they are out of the box.

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