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A toddler sitting on the floor passes a small ball toward a teddy while a grown-up sits nearby with a doll and toy car visible.
LiteracySpeech delay supportFollow One StepIndoor

Teddy Ball Delivery.

Say one short delivery cue, and let your child pass the right object to teddy or dolly.

Play time
5-10+ min
Age
2-4 years
Energy
Low To Medium
Mess
No
Effort
Low
Where
Indoor
Start here

The recipe.

Low parent effort
4 things

What you need

  • 1 teddy
  • 1 doll
  • 1 ball
  • 1 toy car
5 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop
Step 01
Sit on the floor facing your child.
Step 02
Put teddy and dolly in front of your child with enough space between them that each one looks like a separate target.
Step 03
Place the ball and toy car beside your child so both are easy to grab.
"Pass it over."
The loop

How play unfolds.

A four-panel sequence showing teddy and dolly set up on the floor, a grown-up giving a short cue, the child passing the named toy to the right friend, and the objects returning for the next turn.
  1. 01
    Give one short cue such as "Pass the ball to teddy."
  2. 02
    Let your child choose the named object and pass it to the named toy friend.
  3. 03
    Put the object back beside your child or switch to the other object.
  4. 04
    Give the next cue and repeat.

Safety Check

  • Use objects that fit your child's mouthing and throwing supervision needs.
  • Keep the passing distance short so the game stays a pass, not a throw.
Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder
Level 1 (Start)
"Ball to teddy."
Level 2 (Keep going)
"Now car to dolly."
Level 3 (Stretch)
"You tell me. Teddy or dolly?"
Level 4 (Extend)
"Pick who gets it next."
If your child seems...
What you'd see
Focused
What to do
Say
"You got the right friend."
Add
Switch the object for the next turn while keeping the same target once.
Extend
Let your child choose teddy or dolly for your turn.

Make it easier

Younger end
  • -Use only one object for a few turns.
  • -Keep teddy and dolly farther apart.
  • -Repeat the same target twice before switching.

Make it harder

Older end
  • +Switch both the object and the target on the next cue.
  • +Let your child give the target for your turn.
  • +Try one two-part cue with both toy names after several easy turns.

If it's not working

If you see
If child ignores it
Do one quick model pass, then hand the object to your child and repeat the same cue.
If you see
If child misuses it
Keep only one object in play for a few turns and change only teddy versus dolly.
If you see
If child gets frustrated
Point to the named target as you say the cue and count a close pass as success.
Skill spotlight
Follow One Step

Following a short spoken toy-and-target direction

This helps a child hold onto a short spoken direction long enough to act on it, which matters in everyday moments like giving the right thing to the right person or following a simple helper request.

  • •Early. Your child may grab the nearest object or need you to point to teddy or dolly.
  • •Later. Your child hears the cue, picks the right object, and passes it to the right character with little help.
  • •Middle. Your child starts matching more of the cues correctly and stays with several delivery turns.
Real-world transfer
  • Following short spoken directions in daily routines
  • Giving the right object to the right person
  • Staying in a simple turn-based play exchange
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