Playtime Compass LogoPlaytime Compass
Back to library
A grown-up and toddler sit face to face while the grown-up lifts their hands and pauses before a gentle tickle game.
Skill builderSpeech delay supportPause Before ActionIndoor

Ready Steady Tickle.

A tiny tickle and a well-timed pause turn this no-material game into an easy early communication routine.

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

The recipe.

Low parent effort
3 things

What you need

  • No materials
  • 1 grown-up
  • 1 child
1 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop
Step 01
Choose a quiet indoor spot with few distractions.
Step 02
Sit, kneel, or lie face to face with your child.
Step 03
Stay close enough to reach your child's hands, feet, or tummy with 1 brief gentle tickle.
Step 04
Wait until your child is looking toward you or ready for interaction.
"Ready... steady..."
The loop

How play unfolds.

A four-panel sequence showing a grown-up saying ready steady, giving a tiny tickle, pausing, and the toddler signaling for another turn.
  1. 01
    Smile, lift your hands, and say, "Ready... steady..."
  2. 02
    Give 1 brief gentle tickle and stop right away.
  3. 03
    Pause and wait for your child to ask for more with a look, smile, sound, reach, or body lean.
  4. 04
    Start the same short round again when your child signals they want it.

Safety Check

  • Stop if your child pulls away, stiffens, looks distressed, or does not want touch.
  • Keep the tickle brief and gentle so the game stays predictable.
  • Use a body area your child already tolerates well.
Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder
Level 1 (Start)
"Ready... steady..."
Level 2 (Keep going)
"More tickle?"
Level 3 (Stretch)
"Where next?"
Level 4 (Extend)
"Hands, toes, or tummy?"
If your child seems...
What you'd see
Focused
What to do
Say
"You knew it was coming."
Add
Keep the same pause and same body area for the next round.
Extend
Offer 1 simple choice for the next tickle spot.

Make it easier

Younger end
  • -Keep the tickle on the same body part every round.
  • -Use only the words "Ready... steady... tickle."
  • -Stop after 1 or 2 successful rounds.

Make it harder

Older end
  • +Wait a little longer for a clearer signal before the next tickle.
  • +Let your child pick the next body part from 2 easy options.
  • +Pause before the last word and see if your child fills it in with a sound or movement.

If it's not working

If you see
If child ignores it
Do 1 tiny playful round, then pause with your hands still and wait again.
If you see
If child misuses it
Go back to 1 small tickle on the same familiar body part and keep the same words.
If you see
If child gets frustrated
Stop the touch right away, soften the next round, or end with "All done."
Skill spotlight
Pause Before Action

Waiting through a familiar pause before a wanted action

This helps a child hold for a moment before a wanted action and use a simple signal to keep a shared game going.

  • •The repeated pause gives your child a clear reason to wait before the fun part starts.
  • •The same short words make the routine easier to understand from turn to turn.
  • •Accepting a look, sound, reach, gesture, or body lean keeps communication low-pressure.
  • •The whole game is short, predictable, and easy to stop before it gets too big.
Real-world transfer
  • Waiting a moment before a wanted action
  • Using a small signal to ask for more
  • Joining short back-and-forth routines with another person

Parent questions

Back to library
Keep playing

Related activities.