String splash – messy play ideas to encourage your baby to grip pieces of string

Building up those fine motor muscles is hard work and mastering new skills like picking up wiggly pieces of string takes a lot of practice. Make it fun by incorporating pieces of string into sensory play.

Add long lengths of string, ribbons or wool to water play. Let your baby explore how it feels when wet, and notice all the ways they try to pick the string out of the water. If your baby enjoys this, you can add lengths of string to other messy play they enjoy to give a new sensation.

If you’re feeling ready to get really messy set up string painting. Soak some string in paint, poster paint or watercolour paint both work well. Make sure the string is long enough to grip easily, at least 15cm. Put the paint covered string onto a piece of paper or card and let your baby explore it, as they pinch, pull and drag the string along the paper they will create a unique piece of art as well as learning new skills.

Remember, always supervise your baby while they have access to string and during water play.