Best for this moment
when your toddler needs to move and burn energy, especially when you need an outdoor option.
Come Back When I Call
At a glance: A recall game in a safe space — run to the marker, then race back when you hear your name called. A 10-minute, high-energy outdoor activity for ages 19m–3y. No prep needed.
In a fenced garden or park, place a marker (a cone, a stick, a jumper on the ground) a short distance away. Your toddler runs to it, touches it, and runs back when you call their name. Start with very short distances and massive celebrations on return. This game trains the exact neural pathway needed for the real-world 'come back!' — hearing your name, overriding the urge to keep going, and reversing direction. It is recall training disguised as the best race ever.
Parent tip
Start before you overthink it. No-prep activities work best when you begin while the moment is still recoverable.
What success looks like
A good outcome is a few minutes of engaged play, some back-and-forth with you, and a small sign of progress in body awareness.
More help for this situation
Screen-time alternatives
Screen time
Swap the screen for hands-on play that holds attention just as well — no charging required.
Read the screen time guideInstructions
- Find a safe, enclosed outdoor space — fenced garden or quiet park area
- Place a marker a few metres away (a jumper, cone, or stick)
- Explain: 'Run to the marker, touch it, and when I call your name — run back to me!'
- Let them run to the marker: 'Go go go!'
- Call their name clearly and excitedly: 'Mia! Come back!'
- Open your arms wide as they run back
- Celebrate wildly: 'You came back! That was SO fast!'
- Gradually increase the distance as they get reliable at returning
Why it helps
Response inhibition — the ability to stop a current action and switch to a new one — is the executive function skill most lacking in runners. This game trains the stop-and-reverse pathway in a context where the 'come back' command is associated with excitement, open arms, and celebration rather than panic and anger. Repetitive practice in safe spaces builds the automatic response before you need it near a road.
Variations
- Add a surprise element: sometimes call immediately, sometimes wait a few seconds — this teaches them to keep listening.
- Use two markers at different distances and call which one to run to.
- Play with a sibling — who can come back fastest when called?
Safety tips
- Only play in fully enclosed spaces — never near roads, car parks, or open water.
- Keep distances very short initially so success is guaranteed.
- If your toddler does not come back, go to them calmly — never chase, as it reinforces the running game.
When to pause and seek extra support
Stop if your child becomes distressed, unsafe, or consistently frustrated by the activity. If play, behaviour, or development worries keep showing up across settings, check in with a qualified professional.
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