TinyStepper
Toddler peeking from a small pop-up play tent indoors with a torch

New Friend Hello Practice

Role-play meeting new children — practising names, greetings, and joining in play so nursery introductions feel familiar.

Activity details

2y–3y10 minslowindoorStuffed Animals

Instructions

Tiny Steps

Get ready
  • Gather 2-3 stuffed animals or dolls and introduce them as 'new friends at nursery'
  • Model the greeting: 'Hello! My name is Bear. What is your name?'
  1. Gather 2-3 stuffed animals or dolls and introduce them as 'new friends at nursery'
  2. Model the greeting: 'Hello! My name is Bear. What is your name?'
  3. Encourage your toddler to respond: 'Can you say hello and tell Bear your name?'
  4. Practise the handshake or wave — whichever feels natural
  5. Set up a pretend play scenario: 'Bear is playing with blocks. How can you join in?'
  6. Model the approach: 'You could say: Can I play too?'
  7. Swap roles — let your toddler be the one already playing while you (as a toy) approach and ask to join
  8. Practise the most important phrase: 'Can I play?' until it feels natural and confident

Parent tip

Set out stuffed animals before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

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 stuffed animals or dolls as 'new friends' and role-play the experience of meeting someone for the first time. 'This is Bear — he is new at nursery. Can you say hello and tell him your name?' Then practise the next bit: 'Bear is building a tower. How could you join in?' This is the exact social script your toddler will need on their first days at nursery, and practising it at home with safe, familiar toys removes the overwhelming novelty of doing it with real, unpredictable children.

Why it helps

Social approach skills — how to greet, introduce yourself, and join existing play — are learned behaviours, not innate instincts. Toddlers who have rehearsed these scripts at home have a ready-made framework for navigating the socially demanding nursery environment. Role-play builds theory of mind by asking your toddler to consider another's perspective, and the repetitive practice creates procedural memories that can be accessed under the stress of a real social encounter. This directly supports EYFS Personal, Social and Emotional Development goals around forming positive relationships.

Variations

  • Practise with a real sibling or familiar child to add the unpredictability of a real person's response.
  • Role-play the tricky bits: 'What if Bear says no? What could you do?' — building resilience scripts.
  • Record your toddler practising and play it back — they love watching themselves and it reinforces the learning.

Safety tips

  • Keep the tone playful and pressure-free — never force your toddler to perform the greeting if they are feeling shy.
  • Avoid framing it as something they 'need' to do — position it as a game, not a test.
  • If your toddler has an upcoming social situation, practise a day or two before — not minutes before, which adds pressure.