Baby Wipe Top Scarf Pull: A Fun and Simple Toddler Activity

Baby Wipe Top Scarf Pull – The Ultimate Toddler Activity

If there’s one thing toddlers love, it’s pulling things out of places they’re technically not supposed to. Tissues from a box? Check. Laundry from the hamper? Absolutely. But instead of fighting their natural instinct to pull, let’s give them an activity that encourages it in a way that benefits both of you. Enter the baby wipe top scarf pull—a super simple, hands-on fine motor activity that uses everyday items and keeps little hands busy.

This activity is part of my random household objects series, where we repurpose items you already have at home into creative and engaging kids activities. Today’s focus? Baby wipe tops. If you’ve been hanging onto those plastic wipe lids, this is your sign to put them to use!

Why This Activity Works

1. It strengthens fine motor skills. Pulling scarves through the opening of a baby wipe top requires coordination and finger dexterity.
2. It reinforces color recognition. Using different colored scarves gives your toddler a fun way to practice color activities.
3. It’s a mess-free sensory activity. Scarves provide a soft, engaging texture that kids love exploring.
4. It encourages independent play. Once they get the hang of it, toddlers will happily repeat this activity on their own (which means a few moments of quiet for you!).
5. It’s an easy activity at home. No need to buy fancy materials—just grab what you already have!

Setting up the activity

What You Need

• A cardboard box
• Baby wipe top (removed from an empty wipes container)
• Scissors or a box cutter
• A handful of lightweight scarves (play scarves, old bandanas, or even strips of fabric)
• Hot glue or strong tape

How to Set Up the Baby Wipe Top Scarf Pull

1. Find a sturdy cardboard box. A shoebox or small shipping box works great.
2. Take your baby wipe top and glue it securely to the bottom of the box. Make sure the lid still opens and closes.
3. Use scissors or a box cutter to carefully cut an opening underneath the lid that’s large enough for a scarf to pass through.
4. Stuff the scarves into the box, leaving a little piece sticking out of the baby wipe top.
5. Close the lid and invite your toddler to start pulling scarves through!

How to Make It More Engaging

Once your toddler gets the hang of it, you can introduce new ways to play:

• Call out colors. As they pull out each scarf, name the color and encourage them to repeat it.
• Count the scarves. This turns it into a simple counting activity, reinforcing early number skills.
• Try different textures. Add in different types of fabric—silky, rough, stretchy—to make it a sensory experience.
• Let them restuff the box. Once all the scarves are out, challenge them to push them back in, building hand-eye coordination.

Why Toddlers Love This Activity

It’s predictable, yet exciting. Toddlers love the cause-and-effect nature of pulling scarves out, and the element of surprise (What color will come out next? How many are inside?) keeps them engaged. Plus, the gentle resistance of the fabric sliding through the baby wipe top makes it extra satisfying.

MORE ACTIVITIES USING BABY WIPE TOPS

If you enjoyed this activity using baby wipe tops, be sure to check out these other fun and engaging ideas!

1. Baby Wipe Top Count & Drop: Glue 9 baby wipe tops to the bottom of a cardboard box, label them 1 through 9, and create matching holes in the lid. Push cotton swabs into the holes to represent each number, helping your child practice counting and fine motor skills.
2. Baby Wipe Top Color Sort: Glue 8 baby wipe tops onto the bottom of a cardboard box, and tape colorful construction paper on top. Provide a bin of pom-poms and let your child sort them by color by pushing them through the corresponding holes.
3. Baby Wipe Top Letter Find & Drop: Write letters of the alphabet on bottle caps, glue a baby wipe top to the bottom of a cardboard box, and cut a slit for the bottle caps to fit. Using letter flashcards, your child can match and drop the correct letter bottle cap into the box.
4. Baby Wipe Top Rice Bin Scoop & Dump: Glue a baby wipe top to a cardboard box, add a rice bin, and provide scoops and cups. Let your child explore the textures of rice and practice their scooping and dumping skills by pushing rice through the baby wipe top.

Each of these activities will turn simple baby wipe tops box into a fun and educational tool using materials you likely already have at home!

Final Thoughts

The best kids activities are the ones that don’t require a ton of prep or cleanup, and the baby wipe top scarf pull fits the bill perfectly. It’s an easy, at-home learning activity that keeps toddlers entertained while working on essential skills like fine motor development and color recognition. So, the next time you empty a pack of wipes, don’t toss the lid—turn it into a hands-on learning opportunity!

If you try this activity, I’d love to hear how it goes! What colors did your little one get excited about? Did they find a way to play with it that surprised you? Let’s keep sharing simple, creative ways to make learning fun!

Sensory Scarves

Xacto Knife