Cheers!

What you need

• two small cups
• a splash of water in each

How to do it

1. Give your toddler their cup and hold your own.
2. Touch the two cups together gently and say 'cheers'.
3. Take your sip and wait for them to take theirs.
4. Do it again whenever the drink comes out.

Why it matters

A small ritual turns the cup into something worth picking up, and the clink gives them a reason to lift it steadily rather than grab at it.

What they're learning

Steady wrists

Meeting another cup without knocking it over asks for a controlled arm, not a fast one.

Doing it together

A shared moment gives an ordinary drink a shape, and toddlers repeat the things that feel like a game.

Waiting a beat

Clink, then sip: a tiny bit of waiting, which is the beginning of taking turns.

What to look for

Watch for them offering their cup up to yours before you reach for theirs.

A tip

Keep both cups light. Two nearly-empty cups make a better clink and a much smaller mess.

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