1. Find the Colour

You’ll need: bright coloured toys or blocks

2. Chase the Light

In a slightly dimmed room, move a torch beam slowly across the wall in a circle and watch your child’s eyes or hand follow it. Tap their shoulder before moving it to a new spot, so they learn to check back with you rather than losing the thread. Once they’ve watched a few rounds, help them hold the torch and move it themselves.

You’ll need: a torch or glow stick, a light wall, a dim room

3. Roll and Watch

Sit facing your child with legs out in a V shape, making a natural lane for the ball. Roll it slowly and watch their face as it comes towards them, tapping their shoulder and beaming when they touch or catch it. Rolling it back and forth without any spoken cue builds the same back-and-forth rhythm that conversation depends on later, whether spoken or signed.

You’ll need: a large, bright soft ball

4. Stomp and Scarf Dance

Stand facing your child holding scarves at chest height, then stomp hard on the floor while waving the scarf dramatically. Put their hand flat on the floor so they feel the vibration as you stomp together, then hand them a scarf and let them set the pace, fast or slow. Big facial expressions with every stomp turn the rhythm into a proper back-and-forth.

You’ll need: bright scarves, a wooden or hard floor

5. Tumble and Feel

Drop a few large blocks into a clear jar while your child watches, then shake it gently so they feel the vibration in their hands as the blocks tumble visibly inside. Hand it over and let them work out that turning it right over is what makes the blocks come out one at a time, which is somehow more satisfying than all at once.

You’ll need: a clear plastic jar, large colourful blocks

6. Nom, Glug, Ring, Bounce

Hold up each object in turn and act out an exaggerated face for what it does: a big chewing face for the spoon, “nom nom nom”, a loud “glug glug” gulping face for the cup. Hand each object over and let your child copy the face and action before moving to the next. Mixing the order and letting them choose what’s next keeps it lively.

You’ll need: a spoon, a cup, a toy phone, a ball

7. Big Face, Big Move

Make an exaggerated happy face, big smile and bright eyes, paired with arms up and a little bounce, then a surprised face paired with arms out wide. Your baby watches your whole face and body as the message, with no sound needed at all. This one costs nothing and works anywhere.

You’ll need: just your face and body

8. Guess the Texture From My Face

Show each texture and let your child touch it while you pull the matching face: gentle and soft for the blanket, scrunched and surprised for the sponge. After a few rounds, try pulling the face first and see if they can guess the texture before touching it. It’s a playful way of showing that faces reliably carry information they can trust.

You’ll need: a soft blanket, a rough sponge, a smooth spoon, a bumpy orange

9. Pretend Chef

Cook together using signs for “stir”, “taste” and “yummy”, making the sign big and clear alongside an exaggerated face each time. Let your child copy the sign while stirring their own pretend pot, and finish by pretending to taste the food together with the biggest, most satisfied faces you can manage.

You’ll need: play pots, a wooden spoon, pretend food

10. Copy My Big Move

Make a big exaggerated movement, a stomp, a slow spin, arms waving, and invite your child to copy it: “do this!” Mirror whatever movement they offer back, even bigger, and celebrate loudly. This builds the same turn-taking that signed conversation relies on, body first, words later.

You’ll need: clear floor space