Fetch the Towel

What you need

• their towel, somewhere they can reach it

How to do it

1. Before bath time, leave their towel hanging where they can get it.
2. Say their name, then: 'get your towel and bring it here'.
3. Wait while they go. Don't follow them.
4. Thank them for the towel by name when it arrives.

Why it matters

Getting something and bringing it back is the most natural two-part errand there is, and a towel is a thing they know exactly where to find.

What they're learning

Holding two things in mind

Get it, then bring it. The second step is the one that needs remembering.

Going on their own

Setting off without you beside them is a big step in itself.

Being a helper

Fetching something that's genuinely needed feels different from fetching for the sake of it.

What to look for

Watch for them coming straight back with it rather than wandering off once they've got it.

A tip

If they only do the first half, that's normal at this age. They've remembered the bit they started on. Just say 'bring it here' and let them finish.

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