What kind of clothespins work best?

Large, sturdy spring clothespins are easiest to see and grip. Skip tiny decorative clips or any peg with loose pieces.

Can I use something besides clothespins?

Use another large clip only if your child can open it with finger pressure and it can attach safely to towels, clothes, or a basket rim. Avoid clips that snap hard, pinch sharply, or need two adult hands to open.

Can I set this up before my child sees it?

Yes, as long as every peg is still visible to you from one spot and stays on low, stable surfaces. Do a quick scan before starting so nothing has shifted to a risky place.

Back to library

Toddler removing a clothespin from a towel during an indoor hunt game.

Fine motorSqueeze And ReleaseIndoor Home Space

Clothespin Hunt.

Clip a few clothespins onto one towel or shirt in plain sight, place the return spot beside you, and ask your child to bring the pegs back one at a time.

Hide a few clothespins in plain sight, then let your child search, squeeze, collect, and reset.

Fine motorSqueeze And ReleaseIndoor Home Space

Clothespin Hunt.

Hide a few clothespins in plain sight, then let your child search, squeeze, collect, and reset.

Play time

5-10+ min

Age

2-5 years

Energy

Medium

Mess

Low

Effort

Low

Where

Indoor Home Space

Start here

The recipe.

Low parent effort

4 things

What you need

6 to 10 clothespins or clothes pegs
1 safe room or clearly bounded home area
Reachable clipping spots, such as towels, clothes, basket rims, chair backs, or other sturdy household surfaces
1 visible return spot near you, such as the floor beside you or a low table edge

5 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop

Step 01

In one room or one clear part of a room, choose a spot where you can see every clothespin from where you will sit or stand.

Step 02

On towels, clothes, basket rims, chair backs, or other sturdy low surfaces, clip 6 to 10 clothespins around the area.

Step 03

On the floor beside you or on a low table edge, choose one return spot for found clothespins.

Step 04

In your hand, show one clothespin. Squeeze it open, clip it onto a towel or shirt, take it off, and place it on the return spot.

"Find one peg."

The loop

How play unfolds.

Three-step sequence showing clothespins clipped around a room, a child squeezing one open, and the pegs returning to one spot.

1
Say, "I hid some pegs for you. Can you find one, squeeze it open, and bring it back here?"
2
Let your child find one clothespin at a time, squeeze it open, and pull it free.
3
Have them bring each found peg to the return spot.
4
Name where it was found: "That one was on the towel."
5
Repeat until all the clothespins are back, or clip a few onto easy spots for another round.

01
Say, "I hid some pegs for you. Can you find one, squeeze it open, and bring it back here?"
02
Let your child find one clothespin at a time, squeeze it open, and pull it free.
03
Have them bring each found peg to the return spot.
04
Name where it was found: "That one was on the towel."
05
Repeat until all the clothespins are back, or clip a few onto easy spots for another round.

Safety Check

Use clothespins that are large, intact, and not broken into small parts.
Keep every clothespin within adult view.
Do not clip pegs onto stairs, sharp edges, loose cords, blinds, unstable furniture, delicate fabric, or anything that tips when pulled.
Keep the hunt low enough that your child does not need unsafe climbing.
Stay close with younger toddlers because squeezing, reaching, and climbing can create pinch or fall risks.

Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder

Level 1 (Start)

Find one peg and bring it back to me.

Level 2 (Keep going)

Can you squeeze one more peg?

Level 3 (Stretch)

Can you find a peg in a new spot?

Level 4 (Extend)

Hide your eyes while I clip two pegs again.

If your child seems...

What you'd see

Focused

What to do

Say

"Where was that one hiding?"

Add

Name the surface after the peg comes back.

Extend

Clip two found pegs back onto new low spots.

Make it easier

Younger end

-Turn each peg so the pinch end faces your child.
-Use only 1 or 2 pegs for the first round.
-Keep every peg below shoulder height.

Make it harder

Older end

+Place pegs at different safe body levels, such as low, middle, and near-shoulder reach.
+Ask your child to bring back a peg from a place you name.
+Let your child clip one peg back on before finding the next one.

If it's not working

If you see

If child ignores it

Put 2 or 3 clothespins in plain sight on one towel, point to the first one, and do the first find together.

If you see

If child misuses it

If the clothespin goes on skin, hair, or an unsafe surface, calmly take it off and move the game back to clothes or towels only.

If you see

If child gets frustrated

Hold the clipped surface steady, squeeze one side of the clothespin slightly open, and let your child finish pulling it off.

Skill spotlight

Grip Control

Squeezing a clothespin open and taking it off with control

This helps a child build the hand strength and finger control used for clothes fasteners, small tools, and everyday pick-up tasks.

•Each found peg gives your child a real reason to line up fingers, squeeze, and release with control.
•Searching around one safe area adds whole-body movement without turning the game into a chase.
•Bringing each peg back to one spot keeps the sequence predictable: find, squeeze, return, repeat.
•Naming where each peg was found connects simple location words to an action your child just completed.

Real-world transfer