Hello on the Screen

What you need

• a phone for the video call

How to do it

1. Start the call with your toddler on your lap, facing the screen.
2. Say a big hello to the person on the screen and wave.
3. Let your toddler look, wriggle off or come and go. A screen's easy to walk away from.
4. At the end, wave and say 'bye-bye' together before you hang up.

Why it matters

A face on a screen is close but can't come any closer, which makes it one of the gentlest ways for a wary toddler to practise a hello and a goodbye.

What they're learning

Waving hello and bye

A call has a clear start and a clear end, which is exactly where greetings go.

Keeping family close

Seeing relatives who live far away is how those faces stay familiar.

Names for people

'Hello, Nana' said to a face they know is a word tied firmly to a person.

What to look for

Watch for them waving back at the screen when the other person waves.

A tip

Ask the person on the other end to wave slowly and wait. A pause is what gives a toddler room to answer.

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