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A grown-up and toddler sitting face to face and tapping 2 lightweight cups together in a simple cheers game.
Skill builderDevelopmental supportCopy Then TryIndoor

Cup Cheers Clank.

Turn two lightweight cups into a tiny back-and-forth game with an instant clank. Your toddler copies your cheers tap, pauses, and starts the next turn, practicing imitation and turn-taking.

Play time
5-10+ min
Age
1-2 years
Energy
Low
Mess
No
Effort
Low
Where
Indoor
Start here

The recipe.

Low parent effort
2 things

What you need

  • 2 light, safe cups
  • 1 floor spot, couch seat, or pair of chairs where you can sit face to face
5 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop
Step 01
Give your child one lightweight cup and hold a second cup a short reach away.
"Ready. Cheers."
The loop

How play unfolds.

Four panels showing a grown-up holding out one cup, the first cheers tap, the toddler reaching in for the next clank, and the cups stacking away at the end.
  1. 01
    Gently tap your cup against your child's cup, say, "Cheers," and pull your cup back.
  2. 02
    Hold your cup still and wait for your child to bring their cup in for the next clank.
  3. 03
    After the cups touch, pull them apart and repeat.

Safety Check

  • Use light, nonbreakable cups with smooth edges.
  • Stay close if your child starts mouthing, throwing, or hard banging instead of doing the cheers tap.
  • Stop if the sound level or the speed starts to feel too wild.
Skill spotlight
Copy Then Try

copying one simple social action in a short turn routine

This helps a child copy another person's action in real time, share a tiny back-and-forth routine, and connect a simple movement with a social sound cue.

  • •The back-and-forth cheers rhythm gives your child one easy social routine to join.
  • •The cup tap pairs one simple action with one simple sound cue.
  • •The short repeat loop makes it easy to try again without a long reset.
Real-world transfer
  • Joining simple social games with another person
  • Copying easy everyday actions after watching them once
  • Taking part in tiny back-and-forth routines with sounds or words
Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder
Level 1 (Start)
"Cheers."
Level 2 (Keep going)
"Clank again."
Level 3 (Stretch)
"My turn, your turn."
Level 4 (Extend)
"Soft clank. Big clank."
If your child seems...
What you'd see
Focused
What to do
Say
"You did the clank."
Add
Pause for your child to lift their cup before you move yours in.
Extend
Switch between a soft tap and a louder tap for the next turn.

Make it easier

Younger end
  • -Use light plastic cups that make an easy sound with a small tap.
  • -Keep your cup still so your child only has to move one cup.
  • -Stop after 2 or 3 successful clanks.

Make it harder

Older end
  • +Wait for your child to lift their cup before you move yours in.
  • +Alternate between "cheers" and another simple sound such as "clank."
  • +Let your child start one round by moving their cup toward yours first.

If it's not working

If you see
If child ignores it
Make 1 clear cheerful clank yourself, smile, and bring your cup back in right away for another turn.
If you see
If child misuses it
Reset with 1 calm model tap and offer 1 gentle cheers turn instead of letting it turn into random banging.
If you see
If child gets frustrated
Hold the cups closer together and count any small touch as success.

Parent questions

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Keep playing

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