Connection & feelings

Take turns running the shop

Set up a tiny pretend shop and swap shopper and shopkeeper roles while following the child's ideas.

10 minutes

What you'll need

Three to five large, intact, non-food pretend items that cannot be swallowed · One shallow basket without drawstrings or long handles

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. Choose a few pretend items and arrange them at floor level.
  2. Let the shopkeeper greet the shopper and decide how the exchange works.
  3. Swap roles and add one small problem, such as an item being unavailable.
Make it easier

Use just two items and model the first exchange together.

Standard

Set up a tiny pretend shop and swap shopper and shopkeeper roles while following the child's ideas.

Extend it

Add picture signs, a delivery role or a way to solve a pretend mix-up.

What you might notice

Notice how the child negotiates roles, explains ideas and responds when the pretend plan changes.

Keep it safe

Supervise nearby and use only large, intact pretend items. Do not use coins, magnets, batteries, medicines, cosmetics, cleaning products, glass, plastic bags or containers with removable caps. Use a shallow open basket and pack every item away after play.

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

More moments like this

Find an idea that fits right now.

Little Now matches practical play ideas to your time, setup and your child’s current interests—without an account, advertising or tracking.

The iPhone and iPad app is awaiting App Store approval.

How it works
  • Build one tower together

    Take turns adding large blocks to one shared tower and decide together what to do when it changes or falls.

  • Choose a helping job

    Choose one real, manageable household task together without tying help to being good, lovable or rewarded.

  • Make-a-face choices

    Use playful face and body choices to notice visible expressions without labelling the child's inner state.

Browse all play ideas