Little Cowboy Pulls the Rope

1. 1

   Tie a string to each of several favorite stuffed animals and place the toys where your baby can see but not directly reach them.

2. 2

   Invite your baby to be a little cowboy and reach toward a toy. When it remains out of reach, point to the string and say, “Try pulling.”

3. 3

   If the idea is unfamiliar, demonstrate by holding one string and slowly drawing the toy closer.

4. 4

   Offer your baby a turn. As the toy approaches, they may reach for another string and repeat the action.

5. 5

   If gripping or pulling is difficult, guide your baby’s hand through several slow pulls so they can feel the movement.

What to notice

• Grasps the rope and pulls the toy closer Fine Motor
• Looks for your help when the toy stays out of reach Relationships with Adults

Tips

• A simple rope can turn an out-of-reach toy into a problem your child can solve. The game moves from reaching and grasping to discovering that a tool can bring the toy closer.

Developmental benefits

• Movement: Using a simple tool to pull a toy closer gives your child repeated practice grasping the rope and coordinating a strong pulling motion.