The Ribbon Tail Rescue

Ages:: Preschoolers (3 to 5), School age (6+)
Play time:: 5 to 10 minutes
Setup:: 5 minutes
Where:: Anywhere

Why it helps

This activity is a great way to build Body Awareness and Bilateral Hand Use. By reaching behind their back, children learn to find things they cannot see. This is very helpful for learning to get dressed. Squeezing the small clothespins builds the Pincer Grasp strength needed for holding a pencil and performing other important school tasks later on. It also encourages them to twist their body. This movement supports Core Strength and Motor Planning. It is a fun game that keeps them active and focused!

Steps

Cut several pieces of ribbon, each about a foot long.
Use a clothespin to clip one end of each ribbon to the back of your child's waistband so the ribbons hang down like tails.
Spread the tails out, with some near the middle of the back and some toward the sides.
Ask your child to keep their feet planted and reach behind their back with one hand to find a tail's clothespin.
Have them squeeze the clothespin open with a strong pinch to rescue the tail.
Keep going until every tail is rescued, then clip them back on for another round.

Safety tip: Clip the clothespins only to clothing, never to skin, since they can pinch. Take the ribbon tails off after play so they do not catch on anything.

Make it easier

Clip the tails at your child's sides, where they can see them, before moving them to the back.
Test the clothespins first and use the ones with the lightest squeeze.
Let your child turn and look over their shoulder at first, then try finding the tails by feel.

Make it harder

Clip the tails higher on the back of the shirt so your child has to reach up and behind.
Ask your child to free every tail with the non-dominant hand.
Once the tails are free, ask your child to clip them back onto the edge of a box, one by one.

What to watch for

Notice whether your child twists the trunk and turns the head to look, or finds the tails by feel alone.
Watch which fingers squeeze the clothespin, the tips of the thumb and pointer finger or the side of the pointer finger.
If tugging at the waistband feels uncomfortable, clip the tails to the back of a chair and let your child reach behind them while seated.

Where this helps in daily life

Reaching behind the body without looking is the same body sense kids use to tuck in a shirt, pull up the back of their pants, and find a hood or a backpack strap.

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