Scarf Games
to play with babies and toddlers
We hope you and your child will have lots of fun playing with this scarf booklet!
Playing with a scarf will help your child to develop:
SAFETY TIP:
Never leave your baby unattended with a scarf. If you need to move away from them, even if only for a short period of time, move the scarf out of their reach and wash regularly as they will place this in their mouth.
There’s plenty of scarf play fun to explore here, but don’t miss our full booklet at the bottom! It’s packed with even more ideas plus the wonderful benefits scarf play brings for babies and toddlers.
Scarf peek-a-boo (Suitable for all ages)
Peek-a-boo is a classic game that all children love to play. Using your scarf, hold it in front of your face so that your baby can’t see you. Then remove the scarf from your face and sing, ‘Peek-a-boo’. Place the scarf back over your face. You could say things like, ‘Where are you, I can’t see you?’ while your face is covered. As you reveal your face, make an expression to show your child you’re surprised. Once you have done peek-a-boo a few times, hand your baby the scarf and let them have a turn. Younger babies may just enjoy playing with the scarf. Older babies will probably try to copy you, by holding the scarf over their face and then removing it.
Follow the scarf | Supporting eye tracking (Suitable for all age babies)
Babies are usually able to follow moving objects with their eyes and reach for things at around three months of age. Lay your baby on their back, so that they can look up at the scarf. Dangle one end of the scarf near their face. Move it the left and then to the right or up and down. Watch your baby’s eyes as you move the scarf. For younger babies, you will need to move the scarf more slowly so that their eyes have time to focus on it and follow its movement.
Pulling scarves from a box
This is great for children who are able to sit up and are strong enough to grasp a scarf. You’ll need an empty tissue or wet wipes box to hide the scarf in. You can hide one scarf or several scarves by tying them together. Prepare to play by pushing the scarf into the box, leaving just a corner peeking out. Hand your child the box. Encourage them to try and pull the scarf out, or just give them the box and wait and see what happens. It’s fairly likely your child’s curiosity will lead them to start pulling on the scarf without any instruction.
Floating scarves (Suitable for all ages)
Lay your little one on their back, so that they are looking up. Hold the scarf above their head. Release it from your hand and watch it float downward. Encourage them to reach out for the scarf and pick it up when it falls.
Chasing scarves (Suitable for new and older crawlers)
Place your child on their tummy, as you normally would during tummy time. Dangle the scarf where your child can reach it with their hands and move it around to encourage them to reach out and grasp for it. As they do so, pull the scarf gently. When they let go, move it to a new position so they can reach for it again. As your child’s range of movement increases, place the scarf further away to encourage crawling. You can also put the scarf to the side of them and show them how to roll over to reach it.
For crawlers, swish the scarf around in the air in different directions. Encourage your baby to catch the scarf, as you move it. As they attempt to catch the scarf, move it out of their reach. Make it float up and down or move in a zig zag pattern to make the activity exciting. After a while, let your child float the scarf while you chase it.
You can also play this game by standing still and moving the scarf up and down as if it is bouncing. Encourage your child to catch the scarf as it bounces. Bounce it up and down at different speeds for an extra challenge. This is a good option if you’re short of space.
Scarf hide and seek (Suitable for older babies)
Scarf hide and seek is a fun game to help your baby develop their motor skills, language and sense of curiosity. Hide an object under a scarf making it easy for them to begin with by ensuring that some of the object is visible. Encourage them to lift the scarf, describing the object underneath to encourage their curiosity. Ask them questions like “what is hidden underneath the scarf?” As they get used to playing, drape the scarf over the whole of the object and make it more challenging.
Scarf Mirroring Play in Action
Filmed in 2021 during an Active Together Wales session at Penllergaer Playgroup in Swansea (as part of our Welsh Active Early Years project), this short video shows the fun of mirroring play with scarves. A simple activity that sparks laughter, movement and endless ways to play together!
Watch the full video here:
Additional Resources
