Scarf Play - Babies

colourful scarves

Scarves are a wonderful open-ended toy to engage babies in active play. Tummy time, grasping, catching, throwing, rolling, crawling, standing and walking can all be encouraged with scarf play.

Set Up Diagram
Set up
How to play
Step 1
  • Introduce the colourful scarves with games of peek-a-boo
Step 2
  • Drop the scarves from above and see if the baby will reach out to grasp them as they float down
Step 3
  • Put the music on and wave the scarves around as you dance to the music
  • There are endless way to play with scarves with babies and toddlers, try some of the following:
    • for younger babies, wave scarf above them, moving it around and letting it touch their face and hands
    • tie the scarves to a pole and encourage babies to reach for them or crawl or walk through the scarf tunnel - develops crawling/walking skills
    • hide an object under the scarf and play scarf hide and seek as they have to remove the scarf to find the object -develops grasping and crawling/walking skills
    • trail the scarf along the ground and have the baby reach, crawl or walk after it - develops early catching skills and grasping/crawling/walking
    • put all the scarves away by squatting to pick them up and placing them in a basket at standing height - develops standing and walking skills
    • pulling all the scarves out of a box - develops grasping skills
Note: all children should be supervised at all times when playing with scarves
Variations
Make it easier
  • Place the scarves around the room at different heights and in different positions and see how the babies engage with them
Activity information
Age: 0-12 months, 1-2 years
Participants: 1 +
Equipment: Scarves
Duration: 5 minutes
Skill focus
Explore these skills for teaching tips
Head and neck control Catching Overarm Throw Walking Crawling Standing Grasping
Skill teaching

Scarf play is great for developing grasping and the early catching skills. As children dance and move with scarves they will also develop balance and locomotor skills.

Physical literacy tips
  • Join in the scarf play
  • Turn the scarf activities into adventures of discovery by telling stories while doing the activities
  • let the children play and discover different ways to play with scarves