Car Wash Scoot

What you need

• a sit-on ride-on toy they push along with their feet
• a dry tea towel

How to do it

1. Kneel at one end of a clear floor with a dry tea towel as the car wash: no water, and everything stays dry.
2. Call "Car wash open!" and wait for them to scoot over and stop.
3. Once they've stopped, rub the seat and wheels with the tea towel: "Swish, all clean."
4. Send them on a short loop around a cushion, in sight, and back: "Dusty again!"

Why it matters

Pulling up at the car wash means pushing over, stopping and setting off again, and a short loop is a reason to come straight back.

What they're learning

Pushing along

Feet down, push, and off they go on every loop.

Stopping

Bringing the ride-on to a halt beside you, with their feet as the brakes.

Pretend play

A tea towel and a ride-on become a car wash.

What to look for

Watch for them putting their feet down to stop right beside you, ready for a wash.

A tip

Keep it pretend: outdoors, stay well away from ponds and paddling pools, and leave real water out of the game. Wait until the ride-on has stopped before you rub, and keep the tea towel in your hands.

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