Activity Card #4: Ready...Set...Go! (Extension)

This Activity Is Designed To Help Children Who:

• Enjoy exciting movement or sensory activities
• Find it difficult to wait briefly during play
• Engage with the activity but not always with the person
• Need support noticing another person’s role in an activity
• Enjoy predictable games and routines

while practicing shared focus, anticipation, waiting, looking back & forth, and playing together.

Activity: Ready Steady Go!

Materials — Any motivating item or activity (e.g., balloons, bubbles, toy cars, spinning toys).

Duration:

Multiple turns, while engagement remains high.

Try This Technique: Pause and Wait

Use any highly motivating activity such as bubbles, a balloon, a toy car, a spinning toy, or another favourite item.

Build anticipation by saying:

"Reeeady..."
"Steeeady..."

Pause and wait (3–5 seconds if needed).

Look for any signal from the child such as a look, smile, sound, gesture, word, or attempt to continue the game.

As soon as the child signals, continue the activity and say:

"Goooo!"

Repeat several times.

Occasionally pause a little longer before saying "Go!" This creates opportunities for the child to check in with you and anticipate what happens next. (Key principle)

End while engagement is still high.

Remember: any signal counts.

Small Wins To Celebrate:

Celebrate every signal. Even one look, one gesture = win!

What Not To Do:

Do not force eye contact.
Do not keep asking, “Look at me.” or “Look at balloon”.
Do not rush the activity. Always Give a sustained pause and wait.

Ready to Level Up?

When your child starts checking in with you during the pause and helps keep the routine going, the activity has done its job.

Consider introducing new activities that create opportunities for interaction.

© 2026 Aisha’s Beacon | Practical interaction ideas inspired by real-world experiences.