Cardboard Ribbon Slider

Ages:: Preschoolers (3 to 5)
Play time:: 5 to 10 minutes
Setup:: 10 minutes
Where:: Table

Why it helps

This activity helps your child use both hands together. They learn to hold an object steady with one hand while the other hand performs a task. Pulling the ribbon through the slots builds finger strength. It also improves how their eyes and hands work together. It is a simple way to practice focus and persistence!

Steps

Help your child cut a rectangular piece of cardboard about the size of a book.
Adult step: Use scissors to poke three narrow slots across the middle of the cardboard.
Make sure the slots are just wide enough for your ribbon to pass through.
Thread a long piece of ribbon through the first slot from the back to the front.
Guide the ribbon back through the second slot, and then out through the third.
Tie a small knot at each end of the ribbon so it cannot be pulled all the way out.
Use masking tape to secure the cardboard to the table if it slides too much.
Have your child use one hand to hold the cardboard and the other to pull the ribbon.
Encourage them to pull the ribbon back and forth through the slots until they finish.

Safety tip: Always supervise your child when using scissors or handling long pieces of ribbon.

Make it easier

Cut the cardboard yourself, since thick cardboard is tough for small scissors.
Make the slots a little wider so the ribbon slides through with less tugging.
Use a smooth satin ribbon, which glides through the slots more easily than fabric or yarn.

Make it harder

Add more slots in a zigzag or a curve so the ribbon takes a longer path.
Pull the ribbon with just the thumb and pointer finger instead of the whole hand.
Let your child thread the ribbon through the slots on their own, front to back and back to front.

What to watch for

Notice whether your child keeps the helper hand flat on the cardboard while pulling, or whether the cardboard lifts and slides.
Watch how your child grips the ribbon. A fingertip pinch, a whole-hand fist, or wrapping the ribbon around the fingers each show a different way to get a hold.
Notice how your child handles a snag. Easing the ribbon back a little before pulling again is good problem solving.

Where this helps in daily life

Holding something still with one hand while the other pulls is the same teamwork kids use to pull up a zipper, tear off toilet paper, and pull a drawstring bag closed.

These activities are for home practice and don't replace the guidance of a licensed therapist.