TinyStepper
Child on a step stool stirring a mixing bowl with a parent nearby

Finish My Sentence

Say a familiar phrase and stop before the last word — 'Ready, steady...' — wait for your toddler to fill it in.

Activity details

18m–3y5 minslowbothNo prep

Instructions

Get ready
  • Choose a phrase your toddler hears daily
  • Say the beginning with enthusiasm: 'Ready... steady...'
  1. Choose a phrase your toddler hears daily
  2. Say the beginning with enthusiasm: 'Ready... steady...'
  3. STOP. Look at your toddler with big eyes
  4. Wait 5 full seconds — smile, lean in, stay quiet
  5. If they make ANY sound — celebrate: 'GO! You said GO!'
  6. If they don't respond, say the word yourself, then try again later
  7. Use the same phrases every day — consistency builds confidence

Parent tip

Start before you overthink it. No-prep activities work best when you begin while the moment is still recoverable.

Parent and child sitting face-to-face laughing together in a warm shared moment

What success looks like

Back-and-forth between you — words, gestures, shared pretend. Connection is the real outcome here.

Use phrases your toddler hears every day and pause before the final word. 'Ready, steady...' WAIT. 'One, two...' WAIT. 'Night night, sleep...' WAIT. The pause creates an irresistible gap that your toddler's brain wants to fill. Even if they just babble something, they're learning that their voice completes the communication.

Why it helps

Sentence completion taps into predictive language processing — your toddler's brain is already anticipating the next word before you pause. By waiting, you give them space to produce it. This is a core Speech and Language UK technique: songs and phrases with predictable endings are one of the strongest tools for encouraging first words and early sentences.

Variations

  • Try with nursery rhymes: 'Twinkle twinkle little...' WAIT.
  • Use during routines: 'Shoes on, coat on, time to...' WAIT.
  • Make it physical: 'Ready, steady...' then tickle when they say 'GO!'

Safety tips

  • Wait at least 5 seconds — the pause feels long but it's needed.
  • Accept any attempt, even if it doesn't sound like the right word.
  • Don't correct — just model the full phrase after: 'Ready, steady, GO!'

Want to try another?

Point and Name House Walk

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