TinyStepper
Boy in star pyjamas hugging a teddy bear on a bed with a warm lamp and picture book

Taking Turns Tower

Build a block tower by taking strict turns — one block each, with a clear 'my turn, your turn' rhythm.

Activity details

18m–3y10 minslowindoorBuilding Blocks

Instructions

Get ready
  • Sit on the floor facing each other with a pile of blocks between you
  • Explain: 'We take turns. One block each. My turn, your turn.'
  1. Sit on the floor facing each other with a pile of blocks between you
  2. Explain: 'We take turns. One block each. My turn, your turn.'
  3. Place your block: 'My turn — one block. Now it's YOUR turn'
  4. Hand over the turn clearly: point, or pass a small 'turn marker'
  5. Celebrate each addition: 'It's getting taller! We're building it together!'
  6. When the tower falls, laugh together: 'Crash! Shall we build again?'
  7. After several rounds, try with a sibling or friend as a third builder
  8. Count how many blocks high you got together: 'We made it to 8! Can we beat that?'

Parent tip

Set out building blocks before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

Relaxed child lying on a floor cushion with blanket and pinwheel in a cosy calm corner

What success looks like

A few quiet minutes together without pressure. If your child relaxes even slightly, that’s self-regulation building.

Sit facing your toddler with a pile of blocks between you. Take strict turns placing one block at a time: 'My turn — one block. YOUR turn — one block.' Use a visual cue (a small flag, a special stone, or just pointing) to signal whose turn it is. The tower grows as a shared achievement. When it falls, rebuild together. The simplicity of the one-block-each rule makes turn-taking utterly concrete and repeatable — the fundamental social skill practised in its purest form.

Why it helps

The EYFS framework identifies sharing and cooperative play as key social development milestones that children build through guided play experiences. Turn-taking is the foundational social skill from which sharing, conversation, and cooperative play all develop. The one-block-each rule is concrete enough for even the youngest toddlers to understand and follow. The shared tower provides visible evidence that taking turns produces something better than either person could build alone — a concrete experience of the value of cooperation that is more persuasive than any verbal explanation.

Variations

  • Use a timer between turns for children who struggle with waiting — when the beep goes, it is the other person's turn.
  • Try building with different materials: cushions, books, or food tins for variety.
  • Add a challenge: build with eyes closed, using only one hand, or standing on one foot.

Safety tips

  • Use lightweight blocks that will not hurt if the tower falls onto small hands.
  • Ensure blocks are too large to be a choking hazard for younger toddlers.
  • Avoid forcing participation if your toddler wants to knock the tower down — that is a valid (if frustrating) developmental impulse.

Want to try another?

Sorting Spoons and Socks

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