Best for this moment
for calmer, lower-pressure moments, especially when you need an indoor option.
Wave Bye-Bye Game
At a glance: Practise waving at things that disappear — ball rolls away, 'bye-bye ball!' — connecting gesture to words. A 5-minute, low-energy indoor activity for ages 12m–20m. No prep needed.
Roll a ball away from baby and wave at it: 'Bye-bye ball!' Put a toy behind your back: 'Bye-bye teddy!' Close a cupboard door: 'Bye-bye cups!' Wave every time something disappears. 'Bye-bye' is one of the most universal first gestures AND first words. Pairing the wave with the word repeatedly helps baby connect the gesture to language.
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 emotional regulation.
More help for this situation
Transitions and separation
Transitions
Support the switch from one thing to the next with steadier routines and simple bridges.
Read the transitions guideInstructions
- Roll a ball slowly away from baby
- Wave at it: 'Bye-bye ball!'
- Do an exaggerated wave with your hand
- Retrieve the ball: 'Hello ball! It's back!'
- Roll it again: 'Bye-bye ball!' + wave
- Try with other objects: hide teddy behind a cushion — 'Bye-bye teddy!'
- Wait and see if baby starts waving — celebrate ANY attempt
Why it helps
Waving is one of the earliest intentional communicative gestures. Pairing the gesture with the word 'bye-bye' in repeated, predictable contexts helps baby understand that words and gestures work together. When baby eventually waves independently, they're demonstrating they understand the concept of communication. Speech and Language UK identify gesture as one of the earliest forms of intentional communication in babies.
Variations
- Wave bye-bye to people leaving — Daddy going to work, Nana leaving.
- Play 'bye-bye water' as bathwater drains.
- Say 'hello!' when things come back — pair both words.
Safety tips
- Use soft toys for rolling/throwing games.
- Don't force baby to wave — model it and wait.
- Keep the tone fun and light — not a drill.
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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