Balls and Bowls

Little minds love sorting and nothing is more pleasing than rolling balls and little bowls. From discussions on colours and shapes to the imaginative play of planets or magical cauldrons, these balls and bowls will delight and inspire your child.

THE SKILLS

Can rainbow balls begin to teach physics and math?
Absolutely.

A ball is a child's first introduction to motion. Balls roll at the slightest touch of their finger, so even before your little one can grasp the ball, he will be able to make something move. As his small hands begin to develop the different stages of the Palmer Grasp, your child will be able to pick up the balls, possibly clanking two together before plunking them into the wooden bowls. The dropping is the first introduction to gravity, and the rolling of the ball develops the early concepts of physics.

Later on your toddler can tap into her natural inclination to order and sort by matching the coloured ball to its bowl. Start with just two colours and work your way up to all six. Count from one to six, and then remove them all and introduce the idea of zero.

As the child grows into a preschooler you can flip the bowls upside down and make a memory matching game out of it. Which bowl is red? Purple? Do you remember where the green bowl is?

Follow us on Instagram for more play ideas as this is a popular set to use for homeschooling and preschool activities.

THE IMAGINATION

There is endless possibility with balls. Roll them, count them, sort them, pattern them. Can you make a flower? Perhaps they are planets rolling around the universe. Set up a cosmic race. Does the sun roll faster than Jupiter?
Perhaps they are meatballs nestled amongst a bed of noodles, or magic stones to exchange for special powers, or money tokens in a shop.

Combine these with the Marble Drop and Tracker to enhance the early concepts of motion and gravity, patterning and sequencing.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Each ball measures 2" in diameter and is roughly the size of a plump plum. Each bowl measures 2 1/2 x 1 1/16" and sits in the palm of your hand.

While the balls and bowls are large enough that they cannot fit inside your child's mouth we strongly recommend never leaving your child unattended with them. All balls and bowls are coloured with environmentally sensitive paint that is certified safe for use on toys - and free of harmful chemicals that cause illness, irritation or discomfort. They are finished with organic beeswax and organic oils.

An additional bubblegum pink ball and bowl set are available for $5.

Using water-based, environmentally sensitive paint means the grain of the wood will rise. This is normal and allows for a powerful sensory experience as the child feels the variations in the wood and connects with the different types of grain. While we sand all our products before painting, we do not sand after so that the feeling of the wood can be at its truest for little hands to experience.

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A note about wooden toys: Wood is a natural material and as such, has various unique markings. Variations in wood grain, color, knots, or texture are all natural occurrences in these hand-crafted wooden products. These unique variations and markings are proof of quality, not defects. Enjoy the markings that make your toy unique!