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A toddler sitting on the floor holding a toy phone to the ear while a grown-up beside them models a smiling hello.
Skill builderAutism supportDevelopmental supportCopy Then TryIndoor

Toy Phone Hello.

Turn one toy phone and one familiar word into an easy first pretend-play routine. Your child watches you say hello into the phone, then copies the call to practice imitation, early communication, and turn taking.

Play time
3-5+ min
Age
1-2 years
Energy
Low
Mess
No
Effort
Low
Where
Indoor
Start here

The recipe.

Low parent effort
1 things

What you need

  • 1 toy phone or safe old phone
3 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop
Step 01
Get one toy phone or safe old phone for the pretend call.
"Hello there."
The loop

How play unfolds.

Four panels showing a toy phone on the floor, a grown-up modeling hello, a toddler picking up the phone to answer, and the phone being set down for another turn.
  1. 01
    Pick up the phone, hold it to your ear, say "Hello," and put it down in front of your child.
  2. 02
    Say, "Your turn," and let your child pick up the phone, hold it near their ear, make a greeting sound or babble, and put it down.

Safety Check

  • Stay with your child the whole time.
  • Use a toy phone or an old phone with no loose parts, no cords, no sharp edges, and no accessible battery cover.
  • Stop if the phone turns into a mouthing, throwing, or banging toy.
Skill spotlight
Copy Then Try

copying a simple pretend greeting routine

This helps a child copy an everyday social action, stay with a short back-and-forth routine, and begin early pretend play with a familiar object.

  • •This supports early pretend play by giving your child one familiar object and one simple action to copy.
  • •This supports imitation and turn taking because your child watches a short model, tries the same move, and resets for another round.
  • •This supports early communication because a greeting sound, sign, or babble all work inside the same short routine.
Real-world transfer
  • Copying simple social routines
  • Taking a turn after watching another person
  • Using a familiar object in a purposeful pretend way
Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder
Level 1 (Start)
"Hello."
Level 2 (Keep going)
"Phone again."
Level 3 (Stretch)
"My turn. Your turn."
Level 4 (Extend)
"Who calls next?"
If your child seems...
What you'd see
Focused
What to do
Say
"You said hello."
Add
Pause after your model so your child has space to start the call alone.
Extend
Let the phone call one stuffed animal before it comes back to your child.

Make it easier

Younger end
  • -Use the same word, "hello," every turn.
  • -Hand the phone over right after your model.
  • -Count bringing the phone near the ear or mouth as success.

Make it harder

Older end
  • +Wait after your model to see whether your child starts the call without the phone being handed over.
  • +Add a short pretend pause after "hello" so your child stays with the turn a little longer.
  • +Let your child put the phone down in the same spot before the next round starts.

If it's not working

If you see
If child ignores it
Do one bigger playful "Hello?" and place the phone directly into your child's hand.
If you see
If child misuses it
Say, "Phone says hello," take it back for one calm model, and return it for one short turn.
If you see
If child gets frustrated
Count lifting the phone toward the ear or mouth as enough and help with the hello sound together.
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