Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
DIY Skipping Rope
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
DIY Skipping Rope is a free printable activity from the Mini Minds Hub. Children make their own skipping rope, then take it outside to jump, skip and stay active. It suits garden play, and a rope is light enough to pack for a holiday.
The Mini Minds Hub is the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company. Print the sheet, gather what you need and make the rope together. Black and white printing works well. Go at your child's pace.
What is on the sheet
Children make a skipping rope of their own, following the sheet. It is a hands on craft, so they use their hands as well as their eyes. When the rope is finished, the fun moves outside. Children can skip, jump and invent their own games in the garden. The activity mixes making and moving. It turns a quiet craft session into active play, and the child ends up with something real to keep and use again.
Tips for making a good rope
Check the length
Ask your child to stand on the middle of the rope. The ends should reach about as high as their armpits. Too long and it trips them. Too short and it will not pass over their head.
Secure the ends
Make sure any knots or fixings at the ends are firm. Give them a hard tug before the first jump, so nothing comes loose mid skip.
Make the handles easy to hold
The ends should feel comfortable and should not slip out of small hands. If they are too slippery, ask an adult to help add more grip.
Make it yours
Let your child choose colours and patterns. A rope they have decorated themselves is a rope they want to use.
Why skipping is good for children
Skipping is a simple way to get moving. It makes the heart beat faster and uses the legs, arms and shoulders together. Children also practise balance and timing, because they must jump at the right moment as the rope turns. It needs very little space and no team, so it works for a child playing alone or with friends.
Making the rope adds something extra. Children plan, handle materials and finish a real object. Using something they made themselves often makes them keener to play with it. It also links a craft task to outdoor play, which can help children who prefer doing to sitting still.
Skip outdoors on a clear, flat space, away from walls, furniture, roads, water and other children. Wear shoes that fit. Check the rope and its ends before each session. Adults should do any cutting with sharp scissors or knives, and any use of hot glue. Never tie the rope to a person, and keep it away from necks.
Skipping facts
- Skipping makes your heart beat faster, so it counts as exercise.
- You can skip on your own, with a partner, or in a big group with a long rope.
- Some skipping games use two ropes turning at once. One is called double Dutch.
- Many skipping games have rhymes that help players keep time.
- A rope that is the right length for you makes skipping much easier.
Skills and curriculum link
- Following instructions
- Fine motor skills
- Coordination and balance
- Creativity
- Planning and making
- Staying active
Ways to help while your child makes it
- Plan firstRead the sheet together and gather everything before you start. It stops the activity stalling halfway through.
- Share the jobsLet your child do the safe parts themselves. An adult should take any job involving sharp or hot tools.
- Test as you goHold the rope against your child to check the length. It is easier to fix before the rope is finished.
- Practise the turnBefore jumping, let your child swing the rope slowly without jumping. Then add a small hop.
Key words
- Skipping ropeA rope you swing over your head and under your feet as you jump.
- HandleThe part at each end that you hold.
- KnotA tied loop that holds the rope in place.
- RhythmA steady beat. Skipping goes best when you jump on the beat.
- CoordinationMaking your hands and feet work together.
- RotationOne full turn of the rope, over your head and back to the start.
How to use it
- Print the sheet and read it through together before you begin.
- Gather everything you need. Ask an adult to do any cutting or other tricky jobs.
- Let your child make the rope as the sheet shows, and check that the ends are firm.
- Hold the rope against your child to check the length. Adjust it if needed.
- Take the rope outside to a clear, flat space. Start with slow, single jumps.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with the jump, not the turn. Lay the rope on the ground and step over it. Then hold the ends and swing the rope gently forwards, one jump at a time. Rest between goes. Praise effort, not only success.
To stretch confident children
Count how many jumps in a row your child can do, then try to beat that number. Or invent a new skipping pattern, such as hopping on one foot or jumping with feet apart then together, and teach it to someone else.
Make it a game
Play Rope Snake. An adult wiggles a rope gently along the ground while children jump over it without touching it. Take turns being the snake. Then try a rhyme where everyone jumps on each beat of the words.
Talk about it
- How did you decide how long the rope should be?
- What was the trickiest part of making it?
- If you made another rope, what would you change?
- Why do you think skipping makes you feel warm?
- Can you find a rhythm that helps you keep jumping?
- What new skipping game could you invent?
Take it off the page
Skipping rhymes
Make up a short rhyme with your child and jump to the beat. Count the jumps until the rhyme ends.
Jump chart
Draw a chart and record the number of jumps each family member manages in a row. Try again another day and see if scores change.
Garden obstacle course
Set up a simple course with cones or cushions outside. Add a skipping station where children jump ten times before moving on.
Who it is for
Parents
Make the rope together, but let your child do as much as is safe. Test it outside once it is finished. Keep the first skipping session short and relaxed, so it feels like play.
Teachers
Use it for a making session, an active club or an activity day. Do the skipping outdoors on the playground, with clear space between children. An adult should handle any cutting. Children can decorate their ropes as part of a design task.
Home educators
This fits craft, physical activity and a little measuring in one session. Make the rope one day and keep a jump log on another. Outdoor skipping can be a regular part of your active routine.
Where this fits
Before making a rope, children benefit from practice with simple making skills. These include holding tools, threading, tying simple knots and following instructions. Jumping and landing with two feet also helps.
After this, children can try other homemade play items, such as a bean bag or a ribbon wand. They can also move on to skipping with a partner, or to long rope games in a group.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What is DIY Skipping Rope?
It is a free printable activity where children make their own skipping rope. Once it is made, they use it outside for skipping and active play. It suits garden play and is easy to take on holiday.
- Is the sheet free to print?
Yes. DIY Skipping Rope is free from the Mini Minds Hub, the library of printables from Jaques of London. Print it as many times as you like for use at home or in the classroom.
- What age is it for?
It suits young children, with an adult close by to help. Younger children will need more help with making and with skipping. Older children can work more independently and invent their own skipping games.
- What do we need?
Check the sheet and gather everything before you start. Read it through with your child so there are no surprises. An adult should handle any cutting or hot glue.
- Where is it safe to skip?
Skip outdoors on a clear, flat space, away from walls, furniture, roads, water and other children. Make sure the rope is the right length and that the ends are firm before each session.
- Can children make the rope on their own?
They can do many parts themselves, but an adult should stay involved. Any cutting with sharp tools or use of hot glue is for adults only. An adult should also check the finished rope before first use.
- Does it link to the curriculum?
Loosely, yes. At strand level in the National Curriculum for England, making a rope connects to design and technology, where children make a product. Skipping links to physical education, which includes developing coordination and being active.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.