• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Get Our Latest Updates: Download a FREE Set of Coloring Pages! ⇾

Menu Icon
Close Extra Navigation
  • Giant Coloring Posters
  • Coloring Pages
  • Virtual Preschool
  • Shop
    • Giant Coloring Posters
    • Coloring Pages
    • Virtual Preschool • Semesters
    • Virtual Preschool • Weekly
    • Directed Drawings
    • Gift Card
  • Blog
    • Sensory
    • Art
    • Outdoor
    • Science
    • Draw
    • Math
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
Friends Art Lab

Friends Art Lab

Login

Menu Icon
Close Extra Navigation
  • Giant Coloring Posters
  • Coloring Pages
  • Virtual Preschool
  • Shop
    • Giant Coloring Posters
    • Coloring Pages
    • Virtual Preschool • Semesters
    • Virtual Preschool • Weekly
    • Directed Drawings
    • Gift Card
  • Blog
    • Sensory
    • Art
    • Outdoor
    • Science
    • Draw
    • Math
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
go to homepage
  • Giant Coloring Posters
  • Coloring Pages
  • Virtual Preschool
  • Shop
    • Giant Coloring Posters
    • Coloring Pages
    • Virtual Preschool • Semesters
    • Virtual Preschool • Weekly
    • Directed Drawings
    • Gift Card
  • Blog
    • Sensory
    • Art
    • Outdoor
    • Science
    • Draw
    • Math
  • Giant Coloring Posters
  • Coloring Pages
  • Virtual Preschool
  • Shop
    • Giant Coloring Posters
    • Coloring Pages
    • Virtual Preschool • Semesters
    • Virtual Preschool • Weekly
    • Directed Drawings
    • Gift Card
  • Blog
    • Sensory
    • Art
    • Outdoor
    • Science
    • Draw
    • Math
Friends Art Lab / Blog / Pom-Pom Water Table Sensory Activity

Pom-Pom Water Table Sensory Activity

Author: Kristian Klebofski    Published: 08/10/2024     Updated: 04/29/2025

Bring color and fun to water play with a pom-pom water table activity! Perfect for preschoolers, this activity is a joyful mix of sensory exploration and learning.

Table of Contents:
  1. It’s pom-pom water table time
  2. Make a splash with a pom-pom water table
  3. Materials
  4. How to make a pom-pom water table
  5. Clean-up is a breeze (don’t throw away the pom-poms!)
  6. Pom-pom water table tips and tricks for extra fun
  7. Dive into learning What kids soak up from this activity
  8. Float, sink, and explore with a pom-pom water table
  9. Frequently Asked Questions

It’s pom-pom water table time

Pom-poms aren’t just for arts and crafts anymore!

Years ago, I learned how to make a pom-pom water table from my sweet friend Susie of Busy Toddler and I have never looked back.

Pom-poms are simply too cute to only be used for art.

Instead, we can use them for loads of sensory fun and play (and trust me that once you try this, you’ll definitely come back for more!).

A smiling child holding a bunch of colorful pom-poms over the pom-pom water table

Make a splash with a pom-pom water table

This pom-pom water table activity is a fantastic way to combine sensory exploration with early learning.

The vibrant colors and varying textures of the pom-poms keep kids engaged, while the water adds an extra element of fun.

It’s the perfect activity to have in your back pocket with you need a quick, easy, possibly free activity for hours of fun and play.

☀️ Try some of our other FAVORITE water table activities:

  • Fresh Flower Sensory Table
  • Dried Marker Water Table
  • Upcycled Berry Basket Water Table
  • Water Table Small Worlds
A container of assorted colorful pom-poms ready for use in the pom-pom water table

Materials

Friends Art Lab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.

  • Pom-poms – this is the exact set we used and it’s a 1000/10 (it includes various colors, sizes, and even sparkly poms!)
  • Shallow plastic container or water table
  • Water
  • Colander – optional
  • Small towel – optional
  • Loose parts – optional (ex: bowls, cups, spoons, ladles, etc.)
A child pouring a jar of colorful pom-poms into a shallow container of water.

How to make a pom-pom water table

Fill a shallow plastic container or water table with water.

Provide the kids with an assortment of colorful pom-poms.

Let the kids pour the pom-poms into the water, observing how they float, sink, or move around.

Encourage the children to play, explore, and chat as they interact with the pom-poms in the water.

A colander filled with colorful pom-poms being lifted from the pom-pom water table.

Clean-up is a breeze (don’t throw away the pom-poms!)

Remove the pom-poms from the water either with your hands or with a colander.

Squeeze the water out of the pom-poms.

Next, lay them on a towel or on a water-safe surface and let them dry out completely.

On this day, we laid them back out on the table in the (very) hot sun and they were dry within hours.

Once completely dry, store as usual and use for more fun and art.

Multiple children playing and scooping pom-poms from the water in the pom-pom water table.

Pom-pom water table tips and tricks for extra fun

Add variety: Mix in different sizes and shapes of pom-poms to see how they behave in the water—some may float while others sink!

Color sort: Encourage the kids to group the pom-poms by color in the water, turning it into a fun and educational game.

Add tools: Provide spoons, strainers, or cups so the kids can scoop, stir, and pour the pom-poms for added sensory play.

Mix in a theme: Turn the activity into a themed adventure, like an “underwater treasure hunt” where the pom-poms are the treasures.

Safety first: Always supervise water play to ensure the kids are safe and having fun.

A close-up of a child's hand holding a stack of colorful pom-poms above the water.

Dive into learning: What kids soak up from this activity

It’s a simple activity to prep, but it’s loaded with educational fun and learning.

When kids are playing with the pom-pom water table, they are practicing and learning:

  • Sensory exploration: Engaging with different textures and temperatures.
  • Color recognition: Identifying and sorting colors in a playful way.
  • Fine motor skills: Strengthening little hands and fingers through pouring and picking up pom-poms.
  • Scientific curiosity: Exploring concepts like buoyancy, floating, sinking, and water absorption.
  • Social interaction: Playing and communicating with peers during the activity.
A young girl scooping pom-poms into a cup from the pom-pom water table.

Float, sink, and explore with a pom-pom water table

This pom-pom water table activity is a delightful way to mix learning with play.

Grab your pom-poms and dive into a world of colorful water fun!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make a pom-pom water table indoors?

Absolutely! Just be sure to have towels handy for any water spills and set up on a surface that can get wet.

How can this activity be adapted for older kids?

Older kids can enjoy experimenting with buoyancy using different objects or turning the activity into a science experiment.

Does this ruin the pom-poms?

Not at all! Isn’t that fantastic?!

Friends Art Lab Best Resources:

GIANT 10-Foot Coloring Banners 🎨
Printable Coloring Pages for Kids ✍🏼
Learn About Virtual Preschool 🖥️
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
← Previous Post
Confetti Sensory Bin – Preschool Cutting Activity
Next Post →
Shaving Cream Potions Sensory Activity

EXPLORE A CATEGORYOutdoor, Sensory

Related Activities

  • A close up shot of sensory water play: a hand holds a clear cup filled with purple sparkly water. The top part of the water shines in the sun and looks pink.
    Sparkly Water Table
  • Wash the Rocks - Water Table Activity
  • The spring flower sensory table: A plastic bin is full of water and has TONS of flowers & flower petals floating at the top in oranges, pinks, yellows, purples, and greens.
    Spring Flower Sensory Table - Water Play Activity
  • Four containers of water sit on a table, each with one marker in them. Each maker has filled the containers with color (purple, orange, blue, green, and red.) The dried marker activity is ready to play with!
    Dried Marker Activity – DIY Water Table

Let’s Stay Connected!

Get our favorite ideas and news sent directly to your inbox.

Reader Interactions

LEAVE A COMMENT

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Primary Sidebar

Kristian

Hi, I’m Kristian!

I have spent over 15 years in the preschool classroom, I have a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, and I was a college professor of education for eight years. My passion is sharing creative learning activities for children and I'm so happy you're here.

LEARN MORE

Best Halloween Activities

Child matching jack-o-lantern stickers by drawing colorful connecting lines on a large sheet of paper.

Sticker Matching Preschool Halloween Activity

Three finished jack-o-lantern craft for Halloween pumpkins decorated like mummies with white tissue paper strips and googly eyes.

Mummy-Wrapped Jack-o-Lantern Craft for Halloween

Three finished eyeball towers of varying heights lined up on a table, showing how differently each Halloween STEM activity build turned out.

Halloween STEM Activity Eyeball Towers

Three kids in matching Frankenstein Halloween tie-dye shirts, each with a hand-painted monster face over a green and lime swirl pattern.

Frankenstein Halloween Tie-Dye Shirts

All Halloween Activities

Best Fall Activities

Three kids in matching Frankenstein Halloween tie-dye shirts, each with a hand-painted monster face over a green and lime swirl pattern.

Frankenstein Halloween Tie-Dye Shirts

Three kids show off their finished jack-o-lantern Halloween tie-dye shirts, each with a hand-painted pumpkin face in a different orange and yellow swirl pattern.

Jack-o-Lantern Halloween Tie-Dye Shirts

Split image. Left shows a child in a black pointed hat pressing a halved apple onto white paper on a spiderweb table covering, creating rows of bright orange shapes. Right shows a finished page filled with bold orange pumpkins, each topped with brown stems and green curly vines, with tempera sticks visible. A clear before-and-after view of apple pumpkin prints.

Apple Pumpkin Prints – Easy Fall Process Art for Kids

: Side-by-side photos show kids pouring yellow and purple paint together onto a pumpkin in a yellow tray and, in the second frame, two kids adding yellow and purple from cups at the same time; the pumpkin displays layered stripes in blue, orange, red, and purple, illustrating pumpkin pouring paint art.

Pumpkin Pouring Paint Fall Process Art for Kids

All Fall Activities

Footer

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok

Friends Art Lab Shop

  • Coloring Banners
  • Virtual Preschool
  • Coloring Pages
  • Directed Draws
  • Affiliate Shop

Visit the Blog

  • Sensory
  • Art
  • Outdoor
  • Science
  • Draw
  • Math

Customer Service

  • Contact Us
  • Shipping
  • Return Policy
  • Gift Card
  • FAQ
  • About Us

© 2026 Friends Art Lab ·  Privacy Policy ·  Terms & Conditions ·  Disclosure ·  SITE CREDITS