How to Make a Pull-String Piñata

Why choose a pull-string piñata?

Instead of hitting the piñata, each child takes a turn pulling one ribbon. Only one ribbon, or a few, is tied to a hidden trapdoor; when someone pulls it, the door swings open and the treats fall out.

• There's no bat and no blindfold, so it suits preschoolers, mixed-age groups and indoor parties.
• Every child gets a turn, and nobody needs the strength to break a shell.
• It works on any homemade shell: a cardboard box or number or a papier-mâché balloon piñata.

It still needs adult supervision. For children under three, adults usually open the piñata and hand out suitable treats themselves. All Pinatas explains how to match the opening style to the age of the group.

What do you need to add a pull-string trapdoor?

• A finished, undecorated piñata shell
• Thin cardboard, poster board or cereal-box card for the door
• Masking tape, plus a stronger tape such as kraft paper tape or duct tape for the hinge
• Ribbon in one color, about 2 ft (60 cm) per string: one string per child plus a few spares
• A hole punch or sharp pencil, scissors, and a craft knife for adults
• Fringe paper and glue to decorate

How do you build the trapdoor?

1. Cut the opening. An adult cuts a square or circle in the bottom about 4–6 in (10–15 cm) across, roughly a third to half the width of the bottom. On a box, leave at least 1 in (2.5 cm) of cardboard around it so the rim stays stiff.
2. Cut the door. Cut a piece of thin card about 1 in (2.5 cm) larger than the opening on every side.
3. Hinge one side. Lay the door over the opening on the outside and tape one edge firmly to the piñata with a full-length strip of the stronger tape. The hinge keeps the door attached when it swings open.
4. Attach the real ribbon. Punch a hole about 1 in (2.5 cm) in from the middle of the free edge, opposite the hinge. Thread a ribbon through, knot it on the inside of the door and tape a small square of card over the knot so it can't pull through.
5. Latch it lightly. Close the door and hold the three free sides with three or four short tabs of masking tape, each about 1 in (2.5 cm) long.

The treats rest on the door and the tabs hold it shut. A steady pull on the ribbon peels the tabs away and the door drops open on its hinge. If you want it to open sooner, tie two or three ribbons to the door's free edge.

How do you add decoy ribbons?

Decoys keep the suspense going, so make them look exactly like the real ribbon: same color, same length.

• Attach decoys to the shell around the door, never to the door itself.
• Fix each one with a single small piece of tape or a dot of glue so it pulls free with a gentle tug. That way nobody yanks the whole piñata off its hanger.
• Let all the ribbons hang about 12–18 in (30–45 cm) below the piñata, within reach of the smallest child.
• One ribbon per guest is a simple rule. For a longer game, add more decoys; for a shorter one, add a second real ribbon.

Cover the door with its own fringe, trimmed at the door's edges, so glue and paper don't hold the door shut.

How do you test a pull-string piñata?

1. Hang the empty piñata and pull the real ribbon with a steady, firm pull. The tabs should let go and the door should swing open without the piñata coming off its hanger.
2. If it wouldn't open, use fewer or shorter tabs. If it opened at a light touch, add a tab.
3. Close the door with fresh tabs, fill the piñata through the door and close it again.
4. Hang it with the full load for 15–30 minutes. The door must stay shut on its own; if it sags, add a tab near each corner of the free edge.
5. Check that a decoy comes away with a gentle tug.

Every pull also loads the hanger, so reinforce the hanging point just as you would for a strike piñata. Keep the fill light enough for the door to hold, since a heavy load pushes it open.

How do you run a pull-string piñata game safely?

• Hang it from something sturdy, where it can't swing into anyone, and keep it still rather than bouncing it on the rope.
• Line the children up and let one pull at a time while the others wait a step back.
• When the door opens, have everyone wait until an adult says go, then collect together. Pre-filled bags help little ones who can't keep up with older kids.
• Never let anyone wrap a ribbon around a neck, wrist or finger, and keep the ribbons short.
• Take the piñata down after play and put loose ribbons away.
• Check candy labels for allergens, and keep small items away from children under three. See what to put in a piñata for ideas by age.