Here is a scarf - now go play!

It is that simple, below are some ideas for your baby, toddler or pre-schooler to learn and have fun with a scarf.  No scarf at home? Use a napkin, crepe paper, handkerchief, tea-towel, tissues or toilet paper . . . anything at home that floats through the air!

 

Baby Play:

• Lay baby on tummy and move scarf from one side of body to the other in front of eyes to help develop eye-tracking.
• Lay baby on back and hold scarf above baby (within reach of the hands and feet). Gently take each hand or foot towards the scarf to tap and catch to help develop hand-eye and foot-eye coordination.
• Stand with baby lying on back between your feet. Gently bend forward to stretch your hamstrings and take the scarf over baby to play peek-a-boo.

Toddler Play:

• Fill a tissue box with different types of scarfs and ask your toddler to pull the scarves out of the box and throw them into the air. Crawl around to retrieve the scarves and ask your toddler to post the scarves back into the tissue box. This helps to develop hands and fingers.
• Use the scarf as part of imaginative play. The scarf could be a hat on your head, a shoe on your foot or a leaf in the air. Tie scarves together to make a tail for an animal, a veil for a wedding or many scarves could become the snowfall in the winter.
• Blow up a small balloon and hold the scarf between the two of you tight, try to bounce the balloon up and down in the air with the scarf.

Pre-school Play:

• Put a scarf into the edge of your sock and run around the room while your pre-schooler tries to stand on the scarf. When the scarf has been caught swap roles to chase your pre-schooler.
• Hide the scarf and make a treasure hunt saying hot (near) or cold (far) as your pre-schooler searches to find the scarf. When a scarf is found ask your pre-schooler to jump up and down in excitement to show you the treasure.
• Place a beanbag (or small light ball) in the middle of the scarf and throw into the air, try and catch the flying comet! Alternatively try to place the beanbag closer to the edge of the scarf and throw really high, the beanbag and scarf may separate to make a parachute!

Explore your own ideas with scarves and share them with others

 - have fun!