Wave to Family

What you need

• a phone for a video call
• a drawing or a handprint on paper to show

How to do it

1. Ring someone in the family, or a friend, on a video call at a time that suits you both.
2. Hold your toddler on your lap and wave together: "Hello!"
3. Show the drawing or handprint to the screen and let them hold it up.
4. Say goodbye with a big wave and a blown kiss, then let them press the button to end the call with you.

Why it matters

Waving hello and goodbye to someone they love is a real conversation for them, and the people far away get to see them too.

What they're learning

Hello and bye

Waving hello and bye is one of their first real conversations.

Showing

Holding a picture up to share is them starting to show others what they like.

Faces and voices

Seeing a face they know on a screen and hearing the voice helps them remember people.

What to look for

Watch for them waving before you do when the face appears.

A tip

Keep calls short at this age, with the phone in your hand. A wave from the window to someone passing works just as well.

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