Scarf Tug and Pull Game

2-3 lightweight silk or chiffon scarves in bright colors (make sure fabric is clean and taste-safe)

Sit on the floor across from your baby. They can be in a supported sitting position or in your lap facing outward.

Wave a colorful scarf gently in front of your baby to catch their attention. Let it float and flutter.

Offer one end of the scarf to your baby. Most babies will naturally reach out and grab it.

Once they have a grip, hold the other end and give a very gentle tug. Say "pull, pull, pull!" in an excited voice.

Let your baby tug back. Provide just enough resistance so they can feel the back-and-forth, but not so much that they lose their grip.

Every few tugs, let go entirely so your baby "wins." Their surprised delight is the best reward.

Try laying a scarf lightly over your baby's hands or head and letting them pull it off. This is a wonderful variation that builds the same skills.

Switch scarves when interest fades — a new color is like a new toy at this age.

Silk scarves are ideal because they're lightweight and easy for small hands to grip. Avoid anything with loose threads or fringes that could be pulled off and mouthed.

This game is a sneaky way to build grip strength, which your baby needs for everything from self-feeding to eventually holding a crayon.

If your baby prefers to mouth the scarf instead of pulling it, that's perfectly fine. Mouthing is exploration at this age. Just make sure the fabric is clean.

For older babies (8-12 months), try threading the scarf through a cardboard tube so they can pull it out the other side.

Watch for your baby's two-handed grip — when they start using both hands together on the scarf, that's bilateral coordination developing right before your eyes.