Hello, Mr Bus!

from 14 months · 10-15 min · Gross motor

What you need

On a walk, say hello to things you pass: 'hello, bus!', 'hello, doggy!', 'hello, postbox!'
Wave at each one as you say it.
Say bye as they go past: 'bye-bye, bus!'
Leave gaps. Let your toddler pick what gets greeted next.

Buses, dogs and postboxes never mind whether a toddler waves at them, which makes a walk an endless, pressure-free run of hellos and goodbyes.

Waving hello and bye: Things passing by give a greeting a natural start and finish.
Names for things: Bus, dog, postbox: a greeting is also a chance to name what they're looking at.
Noticing the world: Picking out what to greet is looking properly at what's around them.

Watch for them waving at something you hadn't noticed.

Keep hold of their hand near the road. The waving is for the bus, not a reason to step towards it.

Easier: greet one thing you pass every day, like a particular tree

Harder: let them spot and greet things before you do