What is the practice?
This practice is done as part of parent–child play where your child uses a gesture to ask for something or to continue playing a game. It won’t take long for your child to figure out that different movements and gestures can be used to get you to “give her” something she wants.
What does the practice look like?
A one-year-old is sitting on the floor dropping toys and other objects into a container. The child dumps everything out and starts over. Her parent starts handing the toys and other objects to her child. Every once in a while, the parent waits until her child “asks” for another thing by reaching or looking at the object. Any time the child extends her hand toward a toy, the parent gives the child another object. The game continues, and the child starts asking for more objects. Before long, the little girl is using a palms up gesture to have her parent hand things to her.
How do you do the practice?
This practice involves you and your child playing together with some toys or other objects. The main idea is to add “pauses” into the parent–child play that encourage your child to ask for a toy or object so she can continue playing with it
How do you know the practice worked?
- Does your child reach more often for another object?
- Does your child look at you when asking for something?
- Does your child use a “give me” gesture if you do not immediately hand her an object?
- Start by identifying some toys and other materials that your child likes to play with. Small objects that your child can hold in one hand work best.
- Your child should be in a comfortable position where her hands are free to play with the toys or objects. This can be in a high chair, walker, sitting on the floor, on your lap, or just about anywhere else.
- Start the game by handing something to your child. Follow your child’s lead and hand her another toy or object any time she seems interested in playing with something new (by looking at a toy, for example). Describe and talk about what your child is doing.
- Wait until your child shows some sign that she wants another object. At first, respond to any behavior your child uses to get you to give her another object (by reaching for a toy, for example). Every once in a while, wait a bit longer to encourage her to use a palms-up request gesture.
- Games that involve your child “giving” an object in exchange for another work best. Stacking rings, dropping toys in a bucket, and rolling a ball back-and-forth will often get your child to “ask for more.”
Take a look at more “Give Me, Give Me” play
Asking for “More”
Matthew’s snack times have become a routine that are full of asking for “more.” The 8-month-old boy loves to eat dry cereal, which his mom uses as part of a game of Tell Me What You Want. Snack times start by placing four or five pieces of cereal on his highchair tray. This is followed by his mom handing pieces of cereal to Matthew. Finally, Mom waits for Matthew to ask for more by looking at her or gesturing toward the cereal. Mom hands another bite of cereal to Matthew by holding her hand out palm up with the cereal to be taken by her son. Matthew is catching on to the idea that he can ask for things by holding out his hand to have someone give him something he wants.
Take a Boat Ride
One of 9-month-old Ava’s favorite things is bath time. She especially likes playing with a boat that has space for putting things inside so they can “take a ride.” She delights in putting things in and taking them out of the boat. Her father plays a special kind of give-and-take game with her. Ava asks her dad for small toys by holding her hand out to her father. After all the toys are in the boat, she hands them back to her father who drops them into the tub while saying “boom” each time one makes a splash. Ava loves to see her dad drop the toys in the water while she splashes with her hands and tries saying something that sounds like “boom.”
First Signs
At 10 months of age, Will, who has a hearing impair- ment, becomes a bit irritated when he is trying to “tell” someone that he wants something or wants to play. Mom and Dad have started using sign language with Will to communicate ideas like more, eat, drink, again, yes, and no. They use the sign for more to help Will ask for more food or drink. The sign for eat is used to communicate hunger. They use the sign for drink to have Will ask for water or milk when he is thirsty. The sign for again is used by Will to have Mom or Dad play a game over or to look at a book one more time.
