Wash Your Toes

from 20 months · 10-15 min · Everyday helper

What you need

At bath time, name each bit as you wash it: 'wash hair', 'wash toes', 'wash tummy'.
Go in the same order every night so the words come round again.
Skip one deliberately and pause. See if they tell you what you've missed.
Say back whatever they offer with one word added.

Bath time gives you the same handful of words every single night, attached to parts of themselves they can see and feel while you say it.

Two words together: 'Wash toes' is a doing word plus a thing, which is one of the commonest early pairs.
Words for their body: Hearing the name while feeling the sponge is about as clear as a word can get.
Noticing a gap: A missed bit gives them a reason to speak up, which beats being asked.

Watch for them offering a body part before you get there.

Skipping a bit on purpose works better than asking 'what's this?'. One invites them in, the other puts them on the spot.

Easier: name three parts and keep to those

Harder: let them choose which bit gets washed next