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Play Routines

IANDS - Advice For Parents - Communication - Sharing attention in play - Play Routines - Introduction
Play Routines can help with the development of your child抯 shared attention, and their play and interaction skills. They are games that involve an object or a toy.
 
In these games children are learning to shift their attention between you and the toy or object used in the game.
 
Why use play routines?
 
  • They are informal and relaxed.
  • The play routines are based around what your child likes so it makes it easier for your child to engage in them.
  • They rely on repetition and routine. This helps build your child抯 anticipation of what will happen next. It also provides clear opportunities for your child to try and communicate.

How to do it:
 
  • Focus on your child抯 interests and build your play routine around it.
  • Have a clear start and finish with predictable steps in the routine.
  • Show your child how to do the play sequence and take turns if they understand the routine.

Ideas for making a fun play routine:
 
What's in the bag?

What's in the bag?

  • Get a bag and place objects or toys in the bag.
  • Depending on your child抯 interests you might choose household objects, sensory toys (such as wind up toys, toys that light up), toy animals, toy vehicles, shapes, inset puzzle pieces, toy blocks, playdough and cutters, tea party toys, doll play toys, small world toys � whatever you think will engage your child.
  • Sing the song, 憌hat抯 in the bag, what抯 in the bag, Mohamed Mohamed, what抯 in the bag?� � (change the name for your child).
  • Take turns to pull one item out at a time.
  • Label the item.
  • Do an action with the item and say what you are doing e.g. 慖抦 cutting playdough�.
  • When it抯 your turn you sing, 揥hat抯 in the bag what抯 in the bag mummy, mummy or daddy, daddy what抯 in the bag?�.
  • Help your child understand when the game is finished e.g. show them the empty bag and say 揻inished�
Ready, steady, go! games

Ready, steady, go! games

  • You say 憆eady, steady厭
  • When your child gives you the cue to 慻o� you do the exciting action.
  • This 慶ue� can be eye contact, gesture, vocalisations, or the word, 慻o�.
  • Ideas for the game:
    • letting go of a balloon full of air so that it flies off
    • blowing bubbles
    • knocking down a tower of blocks
    • pushing your child on a swing.

Remember

To put pauses into the game to give your child a chance to communicate that they want more, or they want a turn.
 
To watch some videos showing examples of the above types of games click  and here.
Last updated20 Jan 2025
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