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A toddler standing beside an open washing machine drops a sock inside while a grown-up kneels nearby with the next clothing item.
Skill builderAutism supportDevelopmental supportCarry And PlaceIndoor

Laundry Machine Toss.

Put a small pile of dry clothes by the washer and let your child load them in one easy turn at a time.

Play time
5-10+ min
Age
1-3 years
Energy
Low To Medium
Mess
No
Effort
Low
Where
Indoor
Start here

The recipe.

Low parent effort
2 things

What you need

  • 1 washing machine with the door or lid open
  • a small pile of dry lightweight clothing items such as socks, shirts, washcloths, or small towels
5 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop
Step 01
Open the washing machine all the way so the opening is easy to see.
Step 02
Put a small pile of dry lightweight clothes right beside the machine.
Step 03
Stand or kneel with your child next to the opening.
Step 04
Keep the extra clothes by your knee so you can offer one at a time.
"Laundry in."
The loop

How play unfolds.

Four panels show a grown-up holding up one clothing item, a toddler dropping it into the washer, reaching for the next piece, and finishing the last short loading turn.
  1. 01
    Show one clothing item and say, "Laundry in."
  2. 02
    Let your child drop or toss it into the washing machine.
  3. 03
    If it misses, put that same item back by the opening and try again.
  4. 04
    Offer the next item and repeat until the small pile is gone.

Safety Check

  • Keep the machine off during play.
  • Stay close so your child does not lean into the opening or swing the door or lid onto hands.
  • Use only dry lightweight clothing items.
  • Skip this in a loud or crowded laundromat setting if the noise or movement makes the activity harder.
Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder
Level 1 (Start)
"Sock in."
Level 2 (Keep going)
"Now the shirt."
Level 3 (Stretch)
"Can you get it all the way in?"
Level 4 (Extend)
"One more piece for the wash."
If your child seems...
What you'd see
Focused
What to do
Say
"You sent it in."
Add
Name one clothing word like sock, shirt, or towel after the throw.
Extend
Pause for a second and let your child pick the next item from the pile.

Make it easier

Younger end
  • -Use only socks or washcloths for the first round.
  • -Stand close enough that every turn can be a drop instead of a throw.
  • -Keep the pile to just a few items.

Make it harder

Older end
  • +Let your child pick the next clothing item without you handing it over.
  • +Stand one small step farther back after the first easy turns work.
  • +Ask your child to put shirts in first, then socks, while keeping the same toss loop.

If it's not working

If you see
If child ignores it
Do one big obvious toss yourself, then hand over the next item right away.
If you see
If child misuses it
Keep only one item out and restart with a single close-range turn.
If you see
If child gets frustrated
Move closer to the opening and switch to easy drop-in turns.
Skill spotlight
Carry And Place

putting needed items into the right place during a real routine

This helps a child join a real household routine by moving needed items to the right place, one simple turn at a time.

  • •It gives your child one real helper job with a clear finish each turn.
  • •The repeated grab-and-drop loop practices placing an item where it belongs.
  • •The short routine can work well for children who do better with visible targets and a small amount of language.
Real-world transfer
  • Putting objects where they belong during cleanup and chores
  • Joining short household routines with less adult handling
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