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A toddler reaching toward a picture cue while a grown-up offers one plastic egg beside a clear finished container.
Skill builderAutism supportRepeat LoopIndoor

Picture Egg Request.

A simple visual routine where your child uses a picture to request one egg and drops it into a clear finished container.

Play time
5-10+ min
Age
1-3 years
Energy
Low
Mess
Low
Effort
Medium
Where
Indoor
Start here

The recipe.

Medium parent effort
3 things

What you need

  • 2 or 3 eggs
  • 1 clear finished container
  • 1 or 2 picture cues that represent the eggs
5 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop
Step 01
Put the clear finished container on the floor or a low table in front of your child.
Step 02
Place 1 or 2 picture cues beside the container where your child can reach them easily.
Step 03
Keep 2 or 3 eggs in your hand, lap, or a small side pile just out of immediate reach so each egg still has to be requested.
Step 04
Sit beside your child so you can show the picture, hand over one egg at a time, and reset quickly for the next turn.
"Egg, please."
The loop

How play unfolds.

Four panels showing a grown-up setting out a picture cue and container, a child touching the picture, the grown-up handing over one egg, and the child dropping it into the container.
  1. 01
    Show the picture cue and say, "Show me egg."
  2. 02
    When your child points, touches, or hands over the picture, give them 1 egg.
  3. 03
    Let your child drop the egg into the finished container.
  4. 04
    Reset for the next picture-and-egg turn and repeat.

Safety Check

  • Stay close if the eggs, pictures, or container could be mouthed or thrown.
  • Use pieces large enough for your child's supervision needs.
  • Stop and simplify if the eggs or pictures turn into throwing or scattering instead of request play.
Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder
Level 1 (Start)
"Show me egg."
Level 2 (Keep going)
"Get another egg."
Level 3 (Stretch)
"Which picture?"
Level 4 (Extend)
"One more egg, then all done."
If your child seems...
What you'd see
Focused
What to do
Say
"You got the egg."
Add
Name 1 action, such as ask, get, or in.
Extend
Pause a beat before the handoff so your child has one more chance to show the picture clearly.

Make it easier

Younger end
  • -Use only 1 picture cue for the whole round.
  • -Keep the finished container close enough for an easy drop.
  • -Hand over the egg as soon as your child touches the picture.

Make it harder

Older end
  • +Wait for a clearer point or handoff before giving the egg.
  • +Use 2 picture cues and let your child choose the matching one.
  • +Let your child carry the egg a little farther to the finished container.

If it's not working

If you see
If child ignores it
Do 1 quick model turn yourself, then hand over the next egg as soon as your child touches the picture.
If you see
If child misuses it
Keep the extra eggs and pictures in your hand and go back to 1 picture and 1 egg at a time.
If you see
If child gets frustrated
Accept a simple touch or point as the request, move the container closer, and give the egg right away.
Skill spotlight
Repeat Loop

Starting and repeating a simple visual request routine

This helps a child stay with a short social routine from start to finish, connect a clear request to a clear result, and repeat the same successful pattern again.

  • •The picture cue gives your child a clear way to start the turn without needing many words.
  • •One egg at a time keeps the request, handoff, and drop easy to follow.
  • •The finished container makes the result visible right away, which helps the loop stay predictable.
Real-world transfer
  • Starting a short visual routine and seeing it through.
  • Requesting one needed item before using it.
  • Moving one object to a clear finished place.

Parent questions

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