Scarf and ribbon play for kids

Safety first

• Stay close by the whole time. A grown-up should be nearby for every game, and scarves and ribbons are only for waving, tossing and trailing.
• Never tie cloth or ribbon around anyone's neck, wrist or ankle, and never wrap it around a child. Keep ribbon pieces short, about the length of a forearm, and put everything away when play ends.
• Keep small objects such as clips, beads, bells, buttons and little cards away from children under three, since they can go into mouths. Check that scarves have no loose trims or beads.
• Do not use food or edible items as game pieces unless a grown-up is right there and has said it is fine.
• Take calm turns. Give each person space to swing, wait while someone else has a go, and stop the game if it gets too boisterous.

Age hints are only a guide, so you know your child best.

1. Wind dancer

Age hint: 3 and up.

Bring: one light scarf each, and a little cheerful music or humming.

1. Hold a corner of your scarf and let the rest hang down.
2. Move your arm slowly in big circles, like a gentle breeze.
3. Try small wiggles, then slow sweeps, then one twirl on the spot.
4. Freeze like a still day when your grown-up says stop.

Notice: Which movement made the scarf float, and which made it flutter?

2. Rainbow toss and catch

Age hint: 3 and up.

Bring: a light scarf and a clear patch of floor.

1. Scrunch the scarf into a loose ball and toss it up.
2. Watch it open out as it drifts down.
3. Try to catch it with two hands, then one hand, then a clap first.
4. Take turns and count how many tosses you can make before it lands.

Notice: What does the scarf do on the way down compared with a ball?

3. Scarf balance walk

Age hint: 4 and up.

Bring: one light scarf each and a clear path across the room.

1. Lay the scarf flat on your open palm.
2. Walk slowly across the room without letting it slide off or tip.
3. Try again with the scarf on the back of your hand, then on your forearm.
4. Walk only, no running, then pass the scarf to a friend and watch their turn.

Notice: Which part of your hand held the scarf best, and what helped it stay?

4. Colour hunt and tuck

Age hint: 4 and up.

Bring: three or four scarves or ribbons of different colours.

1. Spread the cloths in a pile or lay them around the room.
2. Your grown-up calls out a colour, and you fetch that cloth.
3. Hold it up high like a flag, or rest it over one forearm. Keep cloth away from necks and faces.
4. Swap colours and play again with a new call.

Notice: Which colour do you like waving most, and why?

5. Scarf peekaboo and puppet

Age hint: 2 and up with a grown-up close by.

Bring: one light, see-through scarf.

1. Hold the scarf up between you and a friend so you can see shapes through it.
2. Lower it slowly and say hello with a big smile.
3. For a puppet, drape it over your hand and let it nod and bow.
4. Make your puppet sleepy, sneezy or sing a short tune.

Notice: What could you see through the scarf, and what was hidden?

6. Ribbon river walk

Age hint: 3 and up.

Bring: two or three ribbons or strips of cloth, laid flat on a dry, non-slip floor and picked up when play ends.

1. Lay the ribbons in curvy lines like a river.
2. Walk along them heel to toe, slowly and carefully.
3. Hop across to the other side, one jump at a time.
4. Change the shape of the river and go again, in the opposite direction.

Notice: Where did the river bend, and where was it widest?

More to do on Rangooo

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Questions

What is the best age for scarf and ribbon play?

Most of these ideas suit ages three to seven with a grown-up nearby. Wind dancer, rainbow toss and peekaboo work well for the youngest children, while the balance walk and the colour hunt suit slightly older ones.

Which scarves work best?

Light, soft cloth such as a thin cotton scarf, a dupatta or a square of chiffon floats nicely. Heavy or very long pieces are harder to swing, so fold or cut them down and keep them short.

Can we play in a small room?

Yes. Clear a patch of floor, move sharp corners and breakable things aside, and use slow, small movements. Peekaboo, the puppet and the colour hunt need hardly any space.

What if the game gets too lively?

Pause and take three slow breaths together, then switch to a gentle idea such as the ribbon river walk. Calm turn-taking keeps everyone safe, and it is fine to stop whenever you like.