This easy ribbon pull busy box is a reusable fine motor activity for babies around 8 months and up who are beginning to develop the pincer grasp. It encourages pincer grasp practice, hand-eye coordination, bilateral coordination, and sensory exploration using ribbons with different textures.
Babies develop the pincer grasp at different times, but this activity works well once your baby is beginning to pick up small objects using their thumb and index finger.
When I saw my 11-month-old happily pulling the same ribbon over and over again, I knew we had a winner that would keep him busy. Babies have such short attention spans, so watching him stay focused made this activity so worth making.
This ribbon pull busy box was so easy to make, and my boys have played with it over and over again.
The pipe cleaners ended up being a fun addition too. My baby pulls them out, and my toddler puts them back in. It’s such a great way for both of them to practice fine motor skills.
Benefits of this ribbon pull activity
This simple activity offers lots of opportunities for babies to practice important skills through play. Here are some of the developmental benefits we’ve noticed while using it.
Fine motor benefits
This ribbon pull busy box encourages babies and toddlers to practice:
- Hand-eye coordination
- Pincer grasp
- Using both hands together (bilateral coordination)
Sensory exploration
Using ribbons with different textures gives babies the chance to explore how each one feels. As they pull, squeeze, and grasp the ribbons, they’re experiencing a variety of sensory input through their hands.
Language opportunities
While this activity encourages fine motor skills and sensory exploration, I also discovered another benefit: building vocabulary.
I was playing with my boys and started pulling the ribbon slowly while saying, “S-l-o-w,” then quickly while saying, “Fast.”
My baby loved it, especially the fast part. He wanted me to do it again and again, smiling the whole time, until he said, “Fast.”☺️
It’s one of those little moments I’ll always remember.
This ribbon pull busy box is a great opportunity to introduce new words like:
- Short and long
- Fast and slow
- Smooth
- Bumpy
- Rough
What You’ll Need
- A sturdy box
- Ribbons in different lengths, widths, and textures
- Ribbon rings (I made mine by reusing parts from an old baby rattle)
- Pipe cleaners (optional)
Choose ribbons with different lengths and textures to give your baby lots to explore.
Always supervise your baby during play and check the busy box regularly for loose pieces or signs of wear.
How to Make This Busy Box
- Cut openings in the top and sides of the box. (The photos below show the direction I threaded each ribbon.)
- Thread the ribbons through the openings.
- Tie knots in the ends or attach ribbon rings so they can’t be pulled all the way through.
- Add pipe cleaners to the side of the box. Fold the ends so they don’t slide all the way into the hole, leaving enough for your baby to grasp and pull.
- Place the box on the floor and let your baby explore. I taped the back of our box to the floor so it stayed in place while he played.
threaded vertically
Red ribbon
threaded vertically
threaded through the side
Ways to play
Once your ribbon pull busy box is ready, there are lots of simple ways to keep play interesting as your baby grows.
- pull one ribbon at a time
- pull fast, then slow
- name the ribbon colors as you pull
- compare long and short ribbons
- let your baby pull while you narrate what they’re doing
- encourage using both hands
- count ribbons
Can toddlers play with this too?
Don’t put this activity away once your baby gets older.
My toddler enjoys playing with it too. He usually goes straight for the ribbon rings, while my baby prefers the ribbon knots.
It’s a simple way to keep practicing fine motor skills and hand strength through play.
Final Take
As a mom who tries a lot of play ideas, I always appreciate the ones that are worth making.
This ribbon pull busy box has definitely been one of them. It’s simple to make, has stayed in our play rotation for weeks, and gives both of my boys lots of opportunities to build fine motor skills through play.
If you’re looking for more baby and toddler play ideas, be sure to follow along.