Ribbon wands are so easy to make, all you need is a stick and some ribbon. They are so much fun to use for dancing, swirling and swinging them around, indoors or outside! They will take less than ten minutes to make, from start to finish, but provide hours and hours of fun.
This is a great dramatic play activity, for those of you who have aspiring wizards, fairies, princesses and magicians. They are so great to take outside on a windy day and see how the ribbons dance and move to the breeze. At our CEFA Early Learning schools. We use them often for our dance program as well.
Best Ages for This Activity
One to five
How to Make It
Ingredients
- A stick (it can even be a branch)
- Ribbon of any kind
Let’s Get Started!
- Invite your child to make a ribbon wand
- Explain what you will need and look for the materials with your child. A stick can be found at home, or in nature. Ribbon can be found at home (I like sewing, and I like presents, so I have ribbons I saved from gift wraps and ribbons I used for sewing. If you don’t have either, you can find some at the dollar store, or at any fabric store (they have scraps and ribbon ends so you can get a few different ones for your wand.
- Once you have the materials, make the wand by tying a knot with the ribbon around the wand. Repeat for each ribbon. You can use as many ribbons as you wish, or as few as three. You can even make several wands with different colours, lengths, or types of ribbons. You can even add a small bell to the knot so it makes a nice sound as well. Here are some examples:
Learning Opportunities
This is a very simple activity, but it teaches your child life skills (they are building a simple toy). It also teaches them fine motor skills (essential for learning to write). It also teaches art, as they make the ribbon wand to their own liking. You can teach them to tie a knot (another life skill) and to use scissors to cut the ribbon (more fine motor skills). Once the ribbon is made, you can use it for dance, for dramatic play, for outdoor play, for gross motor skills, and for a million other things.
Doing this activity together also is a great opportunity for you and your child to connect. You can share life stories, ask them about themselves, their plans, and get closer. You can ask, for example:
- What will you do with it once your ribbon wand is ready?
- Why did you choose those particular ribbons?
- Why that length?
- What are favourite colours for the ribbons?
- Would you like to make another ribbon wand to gift to someone? Who?
CEFA tip: Remember to let your child do as much of the process as they are capable of. Also please be careful when running with sticks. If your child is very young, try using a ring instead of a stick, or even a small popsicle stick, so they can run freely with their new toy. Here are some examples:
Books Your Child Might Like
For 0-5
Toys Your Child Might Like
For 2-5
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases