My Turn, Your Teeth

What you need

• two toothbrushes
• a smear of toothpaste

How to do it

1. Hand your toddler a brush and open your mouth wide.
2. Let them have a go at brushing your teeth while you make a fuss of it.
3. Say 'now my turn' and swap: their mouth, your brush.
4. Finish their teeth properly while the game is still going.

Why it matters

A toddler who has just brushed your teeth is a toddler who is much more likely to open their own mouth, because it's a game you're both in rather than something happening to them.

What they're learning

Taking turns

Mine, then yours: the same back-and-forth that makes brushing bearable twice a day.

Having a go

Aiming a brush at someone else's teeth is good practice for aiming it at their own.

Being in charge for a minute

Getting to do it to a grown-up first makes the next bit much less of a battle.

What to look for

Watch for them opening their own mouth as you swap, without being asked.

A tip

Use their brush on their teeth and yours on yours. Swap the turns, not the brushes.

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