Aiden loves playing peek-a-boo with his auntie, Ms. Alvarez.  She hides behind a scarf, then pops out with a cheerful “¡Aquí estoy!” Aiden squeals and tries to pull the scarf away himself, learning to wait and then take his turn hiding.  The game grows as cousins join, becoming a family tradition. 

Aims: 
Practice conversational rhythms—listening and responding. 

Goals: 

• Foster anticipation and joy in back-and-forth play 

Objectives: 

• Wait and respond in simple games (“pat-a-cake,” “peek-a-boo”) 

• Take turns making sounds or gestures. 

Transformation: 
Baby learns the flow of conversation and play 

Foundation: 
Previous social routines 

What Happens Next: 
Ready for more complex games and shared “conversations” 

Skill Progression: 

• Anticipating routines 

• Taking turns with actions or words 

Activities List: 

• Play turn-taking games (peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake) 

• Take turns making faces or noises. 

• Use toys to pass back and forth. 

Materials: 
Soft toys, musical objects 

Differentiation: 

• Extend pauses for slow-to-respond babies. 

• Add group play for highly social babies. 

Integration: 
Turn-taking during daily transitions (getting dressed, leaving the house) 

Parent Simulation Tip: 
Let your baby lead—repeat their favorite games 

Interactive Activities: 

• Individual: Back-and-forth sound games 

• Group: Family “passing game” with toys 

Activity Pack: Please print the accompanying activity pack for this lesson.