Invite an infant to sit with you on the floor to play together with blocks. Place the bucket between you and the infant, with half the blocks next to the infant and half next to you. Invite the infant to play by describing the items and activity. Point to the blocks and bucket as you describe each. Example: “Hi Tiana! Look, I have some blocks for us to play with. Here are blocks for you. Here are blocks for me. Let’s have fun putting the blocks in the bucket!”

Begin the play by dropping one of your blocks into the bucket. Watch the infant’s reaction to the dropped block and recognize his/her response. Example: “You watched me drop my block into the bucket. You are looking in the bucket! Did you hear the ‘plop’ sound?” Once the infant has had time to respond, point to the blocks next to the infant and invite him/her to place a block into the bucket. Example: “Would you like to put a block in the bucket? It is your turn to drop a block in!” If the infant does not put a block in, demonstrate again how to drop a block into the bucket. Describe your actions and show enthusiasm as the block drops in. Encourage the infant to do the same.

Continue the activity by encouraging the infant to take turns placing the blocks into the bucket. Use strategies, such as the following, to promote back-and-forth interactions with the infant during the activity:

Describe what is happening. Examples: “You smiled when my block dropped into the bucket. I think you like watching the blocks drop into the bucket!” “We are taking turns putting blocks in the bucket! I put a block in. Then you put a block in. We are putting our blocks in the bucket.”

• Recognize and respond to each of the infant’s reactions. Example: “You clapped your hands when your block dropped in the bucket! Clap, clap, Maria! You put your block in the bucket!”
• If the infant prefers to watch you with the blocks, invite him/her to participate in the process. Examples: “You are watching me. Would you like me to put another block in the bucket? Which block should I use? This block or this block?” “Here is a block. Should I drop it in the bucket now? Listen for the sound!”

Remember to pause for the infant to respond to your words and to the activity itself. Leave spaces in your back-and-forth interaction for the infant to start or contribute to the exchange. Focus on interactions with the infant, rather than getting all the blocks in the bucket or having a perfect turn-taking pattern.

Invite an infant to sit across from you on the floor to play with a ball. Stretch your legs out toward the infant to create a border for the ball. Engage the infant by talking and showing him/her the ball. Roll the ball gently toward the infant. Encourage the infant to roll the ball back to you. Example: “I roll the ball to you, Matthew. You roll it back to me!” If the infant is not able to roll the ball, move closer and provide additional assistance to help him/her touch and move the ball. Show enthusiasm each time the ball reaches the infant and he/she rolls the ball back to you. Continue to encourage the infant to participate in the simple back-and-forth game. Some infants may want to play with the ball for several minutes, others for a shorter time. Describe the infant’s participation in the interaction. Remember that back-and-forth interaction with the infant is more important than back-and-forth action with the ball.