The Missing Piece

What you need

• a toy with pieces they know well: stacking cups, a shape sorter, a set of blocks

How to do it

1. Set the toy out the way they expect it, but keep one piece back in your hand.
2. Let them get going and notice for themselves that something's missing.
3. Hold the piece where they can see it and wait.
4. When they point or reach for it, name it and hand it over.

Why it matters

A routine they know by heart makes a missing piece obvious, and obvious is what makes it worth asking about.

What they're learning

Noticing what's missing

Spotting the gap in something familiar is real attention, and it's what gives them something to ask about.

Asking with a gesture

Pointing at the thing you're holding is as clear a request as a toddler can make.

Sticking with it

Carrying on with the toy once the piece arrives is a small lesson in seeing something through.

What to look for

Watch for the pause when they realise a piece is gone. That pause is where the asking starts.

A tip

Keep it light and keep it short. If it stops being a game and starts being a wind-up, hand the piece over and play properly.

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