Roll the Pumpkin

What you need

• a small pumpkin
• two or three cushions

How to do it

1. Sit on the floor a few steps from your toddler and put the pumpkin down between you.
2. Show them one gentle push so it rolls across the floor.
3. Let them push it back to you, then roll it to them again, taking turns.
4. Stack the cushions in a low wall and let them roll the pumpkin into it.

Why it matters

Pushing the pumpkin and watching where it goes teaches them that their arms can send something across the room, and waiting for it to come back is their first taste of taking turns.

What they're learning

Pushing and aiming

Sending the pumpkin toward you or the cushions asks their arms to work out how hard to push.

Taking turns

Rolling it over and waiting for it to come back is a simple back and forth.

Cause and effect

A bigger push means the pumpkin goes further, which they can see for themselves.

What to look for

Watch whether they follow the pumpkin with their eyes and get ready for it to come back. Either way, the fun is the rolling.

A tip

A small smooth pumpkin rolls best on a bare floor. On a rug, an orange ball works just as well.

More like this

Soft Ball Roll Bowling from 14 months · 20-35 min Broom Sweep March from 18 months · 5-10 min Big Steps, Little Steps from 16 months · 5 min Monster Walk from 13 months · 20-35 min