Connection & feelings

Goodbye, hello game

Move a toy briefly behind your hands, then welcome it back together.

5 minutes

What you'll need

One-piece soft toy labelled suitable for children under 3

Before you start

Comfortable interacting with a familiar caregiver

Best fit: either · calm energy · low caregiver effort · low mess

How to play

  1. Wave goodbye to the toy.
  2. Hide part of it briefly behind your hands.
  3. Welcome it back and follow your child's preferred pace.
Make it easier

Keep part of the toy visible.

Standard

Move a toy briefly behind your hands, then welcome it back together.

Extend it

Let your child hide the toy for you.

What you might notice

Anticipation, delight and comfort with the brief separation.

Keep it safe

Use no cloth or loose covering. Inspect the under-3 toy for loose seams or parts, keep it and your child's face visible, stay within arm's reach, stop mouthing or distress, and store the toy afterward.

Why it may be useful

Following your child's lead and responding to their signals may support warm, reciprocal interaction.

strong

Supports responsive interaction as a broad mechanism, not a claim that a single activity changes development.

Jeong et al. (2021) — Parenting interventions to promote early child development in the first three years of life: A global systematic review and meta-analysis

Pitchik et al. (2024) — A meta-analytic review of the implementation characteristics in parenting interventions to promote early child development

Leijten et al. (2021) — Teaching Parents to Be Responsive: A Network Meta-analysis

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