Family
Each of these works perfectly well with one grown-up — and comes with a way to include anyone else who is around, whoever that is.
47 activities
By age
47 ideas
Face to Face
Hold your baby about a forearm's distance away and let them study your face. Slowly stick out your tongue or open your mouth wide, then wait.
0 mo – 4 mo · 2 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
Down Here With You
During awake tummy time, lie down facing your baby so your face is at their level, and talk to them quietly.
0 mo – 6 mo · 2 min · At home · Calm · No materials
The Same Song Each Time
Pick one short song and sing it at the same moment each day — before the bath, or while getting dressed. Repetition is the point.
0 mo – 18 mo · 2 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
Sway Together
Hold your baby close and sway slowly from side to side, humming whatever comes to mind.
0 mo – 12 mo · 5 min · Anywhere · Gentle · No materials
Quiet Time on Your Chest
Sit back comfortably with your baby resting on your chest and simply be quiet together for a few minutes.
0 mo – 6 mo · 10 min · At home · Calm · No materials
Low Voice, High Voice
Say the same short phrase twice — once in a low voice, once in a high one — and see which your baby prefers.
1 mo – 12 mo · 2 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
Your Turn
Sit facing each other and gently roll a large soft ball back and forth. Give your child a chance to start the turn too.
6 mo – 2 yr · 5 min · At home · Active
Where Did It Go?
Hide your face behind a light cloth, wait a beat, then come back with a smile. Let your baby pull the cloth away when they start reaching for it.
4 mo – 18 mo · 5 min · Anywhere · Gentle
Who Is That?
Sit together in front of a mirror. Wave, then wait. Name who you see: "that's you, and that's me."
4 mo – 2 yr · 5 min · At home · Calm
The Kitchen Drum
Turn a plastic bowl upside down and let your baby pat it with an open hand. Join in with a slow beat they can follow.
6 mo – 2 yr · 5 min · At home · Gentle
Under the Towel
Hold a towel up like a low roof and encourage your baby to move underneath it towards you.
7 mo – 18 mo · 5 min · At home · Active
Look What I Found
On a walk, stop and point at one thing — a tree, a cat, a bus. Say its name once and give your baby time to look.
4 mo – 2 yr · 5 min · Outdoors · Calm · No materials
Say It Back
When your baby makes a sound, make the same one back. Then add one small change and see whether they follow.
3 mo – 18 mo · 2 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
You're the Leader
For a moment, copy the movements your child makes. Then make one movement yourself and see whether they want to copy you.
12 mo – 3 yr · 5 min · Anywhere · Gentle · No materials
Keep the Story Going
Start with: "Today we found a tiny elephant in the kitchen…" Each person adds one part of the story.
2 yr – 6 yr · 10 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
Walk Like a Bear
Cross the room as a bear, then a cat, then a bird. Let your child choose the next animal.
20 mo – 5 yr · 5 min · Anywhere · Active · No materials
Hidden Under a Cup
Hide a small toy under one of two cups while your child watches, then let them find it. Move slowly enough to be followed.
14 mo – 2 yr · 5 min · At home · Calm
Build It, Knock It
Stack three or four safe objects together, then let your child knock them down. Knocking down is the good part.
12 mo – 3 yr · 5 min · At home · Gentle
Find Something Red
Choose a colour and take turns finding things around you in that colour. Three finds is a full game.
2 yr – 3 yr · 5 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
Cooking for the Toys
Use an empty bowl and spoon to cook a pretend meal together, then serve it to a toy. Ask what is on the menu.
20 mo – 3 yr · 10 min · At home · Calm
What Was That Sound?
Stop and listen together for a moment, then name one sound each. A car, a bird, the fridge.
22 mo – 6 yr · 2 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
One Line Each
Share one sheet of paper and take turns adding a single line. See what it turns into together.
2 yr – 6 yr · 10 min · At home · Calm
One Thing From Outside
On a walk, let your child choose one safe natural thing to bring home — a leaf, a stone — and put it somewhere special.
20 mo – 6 yr · 10 min · Outdoors · Calm · No materials
A Proper Hello
When someone comes home, stop what you are doing and greet them together — a wave, a hug, a shout of their name.
12 mo – 6 yr · 2 min · At home · Gentle · No materials
Two Minutes of Tidying
Pick one small area and tidy it together for two minutes, then stop whether or not it is finished.
2 yr – 4 yr · 2 min · At home · Gentle · No materials
The Best Bit of Today
Each say one good moment from today. Small moments count as much as big ones.
3 yr – 6 yr · 5 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
You Make the Rule
Pick a simple game you already play and let your child add one new rule — "only whispering" or "clap when you find it". Play one round with it, then they can change the rule again.
4 yr – 6 yr · 10 min · Anywhere · Gentle · No materials
Number Spotter
Pick a number — say 3 — and call it out wherever you spot it: a door number, a bus, a price tag. Finding three of something counts too.
4 yr – 6 yr · 5 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
Today I Feel…
Name your own feeling first: 'I'm happy today', 'a little sad', 'a little angry'. Then invite your child to choose a word for theirs if they want. One word is enough; they do not need to explain why.
3 yr – 6 yr · 5 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
Kick It Back
Stand a few steps apart and take turns kicking a soft ball to each other. Cheer the attempt, not the accuracy.
18 mo – 5 yr · 10 min · Anywhere · Active
Dance, Then Freeze
Play or hum some music and dance together. Stop the sound suddenly and everybody freezes until it starts again.
2 yr – 6 yr · 10 min · At home · Active · No materials
Hide and Seek, Small Version
Hide somewhere very obvious in the room and let your child find you. Make a small sound if they need a clue.
18 mo – 3 yr · 10 min · At home · Gentle · No materials
I Spy Something…
Take turns describing something you can both see without naming it, until the other person guesses.
3 yr – 6 yr · 10 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
Who Knows Who?
Take turns asking easy questions about each other: favourite food, favourite colour, funniest moment.
3 yr – 6 yr · 10 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
Make a Den
Drape a blanket over two chairs and make a small hideaway. Sit inside together for a few minutes.
2 yr – 6 yr · 15 min · At home · Calm
Dance Your Name
Clap out the beats in each person's name, then invent a small movement for each beat.
3 yr – 6 yr · 10 min · Anywhere · Gentle · No materials
Playing Shop
Line up a few items and take turns being the shopkeeper and the customer. Tear a sheet of paper into large notes to use as money.
3 yr – 6 yr · 15 min · At home · Calm
Whose Plane Goes Further?
Fold two simple paper planes and throw them from the same spot. Try again with one small change.
3 yr – 6 yr · 15 min · Anywhere · Gentle
Sing It Wrong on Purpose
Sing a song your child knows but change one word to something silly. Wait for them to correct you.
2 yr – 6 yr · 5 min · Anywhere · Calm · No materials
Copy My Rhythm
Clap a short pattern and let your child copy it. Then let them set one and you copy — theirs is allowed to be impossible.
20 mo – 6 yr · 5 min · Anywhere · Gentle · No materials
How Far Can You Jump?
Outside, mark a starting line with a stick or a shoe and jump forward from it. Mark where you land and take turns trying again.
3 yr – 6 yr · 10 min · Outdoors · Active · No materials
A Three-Picture Story
Draw one simple picture on each of three pieces of paper — a tree, a cat, a cloud — and let your child put them in any order and tell the story. Then swap two and see how the story changes.
4 yr – 6 yr · 10 min · At home · Calm
You Plan the Job
Pick one small household job — setting the table or sorting the toy shelf — and let your child tell you the steps: what first, what next. Follow their plan step by step, asking questions if you need to.
4 yr – 6 yr · 10 min · At home · Calm · No materials
Build an Obstacle Course
Use cushions, a chair and a blanket to make a short course. Let your child design at least one part of it.
2 yr – 6 yr · 15 min · At home · Active
Aim for the Basket
Put a basket a few steps away and take turns tossing rolled-up socks into it. Move closer or further to keep it fun.
2 yr – 6 yr · 10 min · At home · Active
The Slowest Race
Race across the room to see who can move the slowest without stopping. The last one there wins.
3 yr – 6 yr · 5 min · Anywhere · Gentle · No materials
A Bridge for the Toy Car
Between two piles of books, build a bridge together that a toy car can cross, using card, books or boxes. If it falls, work out together what to change.
4 yr – 6 yr · 15 min · At home · Calm