From the Next Room
What you need
- a soft toy they know, left in the next room
How to do it
- Start easy: ask for a toy that's in the same room but not right beside them.
- When that's easy, leave the toy in the next room where they'll see it as they go in.
- Ask for it by name: "can you get teddy from the bedroom?"
- Wait at the door and cheer when it comes back.
Why it matters
Once the toy is out of sight, the word is all they've got to go on, so fetching from another room is the next step up from fetching what they can see.
What they're learning
- Holding the word in mind
- Remembering what they went for all the way there.
- Going out of sight
- The word has to do all the work.
- Coming back
- Bringing it back to you finishes the job.
What to look for
Watch for them setting off before you've finished asking.
A tip
Say the name without pointing or looking at it; that's what makes it about the word. If they're stuck, point to help and try again another time. Only use rooms that are safe for them on their own for a moment, and follow if you're unsure.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: keep it in the same room, just out of reach
Harder: leave two toys in the other room and ask for one
