Zipper Pull Practice: illustration of a toddler doing the activity

Zipper Pull Practice

from 20 months · 5-10 min · Fine motor

Physical DevelopmentPersonal, Social and Emotional Development

What you need

  • zip pouch or old jacket with a zipper

How to do it

  1. Start the zipper a little way so the toggle is easy to grab.
  2. Show your toddler how to pull it up and down.
  3. Let them practice zipping the pouch open and closed on their own.
  4. Put a small toy inside so they can zip it in and 'find' it again.

Why it matters

Pulling a zipper is one of the first real self-dressing skills, and it builds the grip and pull strength dressing requires.

What they're learning

Pincer grip
Gripping a small zipper pull trains the precise pinch used for buttons, snaps, and shoelaces later on.
Self-dressing readiness
Zipping a pouch is a direct rehearsal for zipping their own coat independently.
Focus & persistence
Working the zipper track without it snagging builds patience with a task that takes a few tries to master.

What to look for

Watch for them lining the zipper up straight before pulling — that's them problem-solving the mechanics.

A tip

Start the zip a little way for them at first; getting it started at the very bottom is the hardest part and can wait.

Make it easier or harder

Easier: clip a large plastic key-ring style loop onto the zipper toggle to make it easier to grip

Harder: practice starting the zipper from the very bottom themselves

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Fine motor activities · Activities for 18 month olds · Activities for 2 year olds