Time to listen – challenge yourself to sit back and only help when your toddler asks

What you need

What to try

Make sure your toddler can reach a selection of toys to use while they play.
Find a comfortable space close to where your toddler is playing, and sit back, watch and listen as they play.
Show your toddler you’re interested in what they are doing by smiling or making a comment, but resist the urge to get involved or make a suggestion unless they ask for help.
If they do ask for help, try not to give an answer straight away, instead make a comment or ask a question to help them think.
This could be something like, “The tower is looking wobbly now.” or “I wonder how you could make it steady?”