Scarf Activities 

Scarf play holds fascination for children of all ages.  The novelty of the item is exciting as well as challenging.  Scarf play helps with hand-eye coordination.   For younger children, the ability to track a moving objects transfers to many games and sports.  Make sure your scarves are light-weight (although inexpensive paper napkins or Tulle works very well too).  Use caution since scarves can be very slippery if stepped on.  

How to integrate movement and learning: 

1. Practice school readiness skills.  Identify colors, match scarves to same colors, make various shapes with the scarf, etc.

2. Practice ordinal numbers, place children in a straight line of three, each with a scarf.  The first in line performs a sweeping action, the last in line performs a tail-like motion with the scarf, the middle child makes helicopter circles overhead.  Reverse the positions and repeat. Who is first, last, in the middle?

3. Continue to move creatively and use concepts like:  right, left, high, low, out, in, up, down, etc.

4. Pick your favorite song and move the scarf to the beat.  Listen to the beat and move rhythmically.  Use different music for a variety of exploration. 

5. Practice tossing and catching with a scarf.  Lay the scarf on the palm of one hand, with the thumb and pointer finger of the other hand, pinch the scarf in the middle and lift it off the palm.  Now give it a flick into the air and catch it. Keep palms facing out when catching.  Toss and catch with one or two hands,   alternate hands, clap once or twice before a catch.  For a challenge, try toss-spin around-catch.

6. Toss the scarf and watch it land on different body parts (back of hand, head, foot, back, etc.)  Verbally say the body part as the scarf lands for language development.

7. Use the scarf to illustrate concepts such as between two like body parts (a partner is needed), between two unlike body parts.

8. Use the scarf to demonstrate a pattern (e.g., toss-clap-catch, repeat; toss-touch your head-catch, repeat; toss-spin-catch, repeat)

9. Cooperatively build a bar graph on the floor by laying all the same colored scarves in a line. Once graph is complete, discuss the qualities of least/most, next to least/most, etc.  Are there colors that have the same amounts?

10. Create something new to do!