Whose Turn?

What you need

• bricks for a tower, or bean bags and a basket

How to do it

1. Start a game with clear turns: one brick each, or one bean bag each.
2. Say whose turn it is every single time: 'Mummy's turn', then their name.
3. Hand over and wait, without asking.
4. Add a word to whatever they say: they say their name, you say their name and 'turn'.

Why it matters

Turn-taking games give the same short phrase a reason to be said every few seconds, and a toddler waiting for their go is very motivated to say whose it is.

What they're learning

Two words together

A name plus 'turn' is a possessive pair, and it arrives early because it matters to them.

Taking turns

The waiting is real practice in itself, quite apart from the words.

Words for people

Names are usually among the first words, so they're a good half of a pair.

What to look for

Watch for them claiming their turn out loud before you offer it.

A tip

Keep the turns quick. A long wait for a go is where the game falls apart.

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