Pompom Color Match Cups: An Exciting Color Recognition Activity

A Fun and Simple Color Matching Activity 

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your toddler, wondering how in the world to keep them entertained for more than three minutes without resorting to screen time, welcome to the club. Sometimes, the best kids activities are the ones that require almost no prep, use what you already have, and make you feel like a Pinterest parent without actually trying.

That’s where this color recognition game comes in—pompom color match cups. This is activity #1 in my activities with random household objects series, and we’re kicking things off with an MVP: plastic cups. If you have a set of plastic cups, some pompoms, and a few dot markers, you’re already halfway to a fun, mess-free learning activity at home.

Why This Toddler Matching Activity Works

As much as we love the idea of elaborate sensory bins and themed crafts, sometimes kids just want something simple. And as parents, we want something that doesn’t involve a 20-minute cleanup. Here’s why this fine motor activity is a winner:

• Color recognition: Helps toddlers identify and match colors in a hands-on way.
• Fine motor skills: Picking up and placing pompoms strengthens those tiny fingers.
• Independence: Easy enough for kids to do on their own (a huge plus when you need five minutes to drink your coffee while it’s still warm).
• Zero fancy supplies: You probably already have everything you need.

What You Need

Before we get into the steps, gather these everyday items:

• Plastic cups
• Pompoms in various colors
• Index cards
• Dot markers (or regular markers if you don’t have dot ones)
• A toddler who’s ready for some hands-on learning

How to Set Up Pompom Color Match Cups

1. Draw Your Cup Outlines. Take an index card and draw a simple outline of a cup on it. No need for artistic skills—just a basic cup shape will do.
2. Add Color Clues. Use dot markers to add three dots inside the cup outline. Each card will represent a different cup color.
3. Match the Cups. Place an actual plastic cup in front of each card.
4. Sort the Pompoms. Hand your child a pile of pompoms and let them match the colors in the cup to the colors on the card.
5. Encourage & Adjust. If needed, help guide them at first by saying the colors aloud or demonstrating. As they catch on, let them take the lead!

Ways to Mix It Up

Once your child masters the basic version, here are some fun variations to keep things interesting:

• Timed Challenge: See how fast they can match all the pompoms.
• Tweezers or Tongs: Have them use kid-friendly tweezers to pick up the pompoms for extra fine motor practice.
• No Cards, Just Cups: If they’re ready for an extra challenge, remove the index cards and let them sort using just the cups and their memory.

The Best Part? It’s Cleanup-Friendly

Unlike activities that end in a flour-covered kitchen or a living room buried in scraps of construction paper, this toddler matching activity takes seconds to clean up. When your little one is done, just toss the pompoms back in a bag, stack the cups, and call it a win.

More Learning Activities Using Plastic Cups

If this was a hit with your toddler, don’t stop here! Plastic cups are surprisingly versatile when it comes to kids learning activities. Here are four more simple color matching activities and games using plastic cups that we’ll be covering in this series:

1. Cup Towers – Use plastic cups and jumbo craft sticks to build towers. Challenge your child to see how high they can stack them or create different structures.
2. Upper and Lowercase Letter Match Cups – Trace the tops of plastic cups onto brown craft paper and write lowercase letters inside each circle. Write uppercase letters on the bottoms of the cups, then match them to their lowercase pairs.
3. Shrinking Cups – Decorate plastic cups with permanent markers, place them on a baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for about five minutes. Watch as they shrink—it’s science happening right before your eyes!
4. Fizzy Art Cups – Cover the bottom of a shallow tray with baking soda. Fill plastic cups with vinegar and food coloring, then use eye droppers to add the colored vinegar to the baking soda for a fizzing masterpiece.

Final Thoughts

The next time you find yourself desperate for a quick, engaging activity at home, give pompom color match cups a try. It’s easy to set up, great for color practice, and—best of all—your toddler will think it’s just as fun as you think it is genius. And if they don’t? At least you got five minutes of peace.

Stay tuned for more activities using plastic cups, and in the meantime, go reclaim your coffee before it goes cold. Again.

Plastic Cups

Plastic Cups

Index Cards

Black Permanent Markers

Dot Markers

Pom-poms