Context: playtime​

Setting: any location​

Materials: any ball, flat surface​

Action:​

1. Sit on the floor facing your child with a few feet in between you. Say, "Let's play ball!" and roll a ball back and forth.​

2. After a few rolls back and forth, pause with the ball and wait for a request from your child. Requests might be verbal or nonverbal (e.g., eye contact, smiling).​

3. When your child makes a request, roll the ball again and continue passing back and forth​

4. Pause and wait for a request every few turns​

Context: any time​

Setting: any location​

Materials: none​

Action:​

1. Teach your child the Old MacDonald Had a Farm song step by step​

2. Sing the whole song to your child so they become familiar with the words ​

3. Stop singing the song when the animal noises appear and wait for your child to make the noises

Context: playtime​

Setting: any location​

Materials: basket or toy chest with toys or objects your child is familiar with​

Action:​

1. Put the basket filled with familiar objects a few feet away from your child​

2. Ask your child to find an object (e.g., say, "Find the doll and bring it to me.") ​

3. Place the toy next to you, smile, and say, "Thank you.” Then ask for another object.​

4. Continue practicing by searching for different objects​

Context: playtime, anytime​

Setting: any location​

Materials: none​

Action:​

1. Say, "Watch me! Do what I do." ​

2. Model a simple action (e.g., clapping your hands or touching your nose) and then wait ​

3. Say, "Now your turn," and encourage your child to imitate the action​

4. Repeat the steps above, increasing the complexity of the action (e.g., two claps, or one clap and pat your head)​

Context: before playtime​

Setting: living room, any location​

Materials: toys​

Action:​

1. Hold up two toys in your child's line of vision, one on the left and the other on the right​

2. Ask, "Which would you like to play with?" And wait for a response.​

3. Look for any communication cue from the child (e.g., eye gaze, point, gesture, vocalization) and respond by giving the chosen toy to your child​

4. Let your child play with the toy for 1-2 minutes and then start from Step 1 with two more toy options​

Context: playtime, anytime​

Setting: any location​

Materials: none​

Action:​

1. Sit facing your child and sing a favorite song all the way through​

2. Sing the first line of the song again and then stop singing​

3. Watch for your child to request more singing (e.g., by smiling, gesturing, vocalizing) and then continue singing the song

Context: any time​

Setting: any location​

Materials: none​

Action:​

1. Make a particular facial expression (e.g., happy, sad, silly) ​

2. Ask your child to imitate the same expression. Say, "make a happy face!" or "Make this face!"

Context: playtime​

Setting: play area, any room​

Materials: a set of cubes or building blocks​

Action:​

1. Build a tower of blocks with your child and encourage turn-taking​

2. Place a block and say, "my turn," and then give your child a block to place and say, "your turn”​

3. Repeat to build three towers​

Tips:

• Smile and nod or provide your child other types of positive reinforcement for any attempts that they make. ​

• If your child prefers to make their own tower, take turns with the group of blocks. Say, "First, my tower" then let your tower fall and say, "Now you build a tower!"​

• Try hand-over-hand assistance or modeling the activity with a sibling if your child needs support. You could also try using different objects, such as pillows or other stackable items.