Skill· 10mo–12mo· 2 min
Ask for Help
Parent hides a toy under a box and encourages baby to ask for help retrieving it. The agent coaches the parent to observe baby's attention, gestural communication, and problem-solving attempts — building early communication skills and social connection through shared problem-solving.
Free to do together whenever you like.
What you'll need
Parent and baby sitting facing each other on floor or at table. One favorite small toy and one opaque container (box, bowl, cup) that can completely hide the toy. Space should be free of distractions.
How it works
The 3-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneGestures to recruit helpMind· 9mo–21mo· stretch· Step 2
- MilestonePoints and gazes to share attentionHeart· 8mo–2y· core
- MilestoneGestures wants or needsMind· 10mo–2.3y· core· Steps 2, 3
- MilestoneCoordinates gesture with another signalMind· 9mo–2.5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneReacts to disappearanceMind· 0mo–11mo· core· Step 1
- MilestoneExplores with caregiver as secure baseHeart· 10mo–20mo· stretch
- MilestoneChildren’s later writing is based on skills and understandings which they develop as babies and toddlers. Before they can write, they need to learn to use spoken language to communicate. Later they learn to write down the words they can say. (See the roots of Writing in Communication and language).Mind· 0mo–11mo· stretch· Step 2
Visual example
Coming soon