Make Tissue Balls
Turn tissues from the box into soft little balls. Scrunch, roll, toss, and catch them together while your baby’s eyes and hands learn to work together.
- 9 months
- Quick prep
- At home
- About 5 minutes
Developmental benefits
- Movement：Watching the tissue ball while adjusting how they scrunch, reach, and grasp gives your baby practice coordinating their eyes and hands.
- Cognitive：Watching and copying you as you make, roll, and catch tissue balls helps your baby share attention with you and stay involved in the play.
Preparation
What You’ll Need
- 1
A box of tissues
Step 1
Roll a Tissue Ball
When your baby pulls a tissue from the box, add a playful twist. Scrunch the tissue into a ball and roll it slowly in front of your baby. When they reach for the ball, invite them to make another one with you.
What to notice
- Turns to look at you after hearing your voice
Attending and Understanding - Pulls a tissue from the box
Fine Motor
Tips
- Pairing a short phrase with your action helps your baby connect what they hear with what they see.
- Roll slowly toward your baby’s hands or across their view so their eyes can follow the ball.
- Everyday facial tissues work well. Their soft, flexible texture is easy for little hands to grasp and scrunch.
Step 2
Scrunch a Ball Together
Place your hands over your baby’s and scrunch a tissue into a ball together. As the motion becomes familiar, loosen your hold and let your baby try. Make another tissue ball beside them so they can watch and join you.
What to notice
- Scrunches a tissue ball with their hands Fine Motor
- Stays involved in making tissue balls while you play beside them
Cognitive Self-Regulation (Executive Functioning)
Tips
- Show how to keep the ball from falling by cupping it in your palm or closing your fingers gently around it.
- A nine-month-old is still developing precise hand control, so dropping the tissue is an ordinary part of trying.
- Use playful words with the motions, such as “scrunch, scrunch” and “squeeze, squeeze.”
Step 3
Play with All the Tissue Balls
Celebrate the tissue ball your baby made. If they are interested, make a few more together. Toss and pick up the balls, or roll one for your baby to catch. Each variation gives their eyes and hands another way to work together.
What to notice
- Reaches out and catches a rolling tissue ball Fine Motor
- Shows you the tissue ball they made
Sense of Identity and Belonging
Tips
- Specific praise—“You made that ball so round!”—supports skills related to #SE-SIB and encourages your baby to try again.
- Notice whether your baby prefers rolling, grabbing, or tossing, and follow their interest and pace.
Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026