Connection & feelings

Pass the pattern

Create a simple clap, tap or gesture pattern and pass it back and forth, with either person free to change it.

10 minutes

What you'll need

No special materials

Before you start

Child is comfortable sharing a short play routine with a familiar caregiver

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

How to play

  1. Make a two-part pattern such as clap-tap.
  2. Pass it to the child to copy or change.
  3. Copy the child's version, then talk about what stayed the same or changed.
Make it easier

Use one repeated action at a slow pace.

Standard

Create a simple clap, tap or gesture pattern and pass it back and forth, with either person free to change it.

Extend it

Build a three-part pattern together, with each person contributing one action.

What you might notice

Notice how the child signals their turn and responds to changes without scoring accuracy.

Keep it safe

Check that every material is intact, age-appropriate and non-toxic. Stay nearby, keep movement at floor level, and let the child stop, simplify or change the activity.

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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