Back to activities
Together timeHand strength

First Passing Game

Parent hands baby an object and holds out a hand to receive it back, building the earliest give-and-take turn-taking.

Cartoon illustration of a parent and child at home doing First Passing Game.
  • Age6 to 12 months
  • TimeUnder 5 minutes
  • EnergyCalm
  • CostFree
  • WhereIndoors
  • PrepNone

You hand your baby a graspable object, then hold out an open hand and invite them to give it back, building a gentle give-and-take rhythm. The earliest turn-taking, played as a warm back-and-forth.

How to do it

  1. Sit facing your baby when they can hold objects and are calm and alert: supported sitting or on your lap.
  2. Offer one safe, graspable object (larger than 5cm, no small parts) and let them take and explore it.
  3. Hold out your open hand near them and say something warm like "can I have it?" Then wait; do not pull the object from them.
  4. If they release it into your hand, respond with delight and hand it straight back so the exchange continues.
  5. Keep the gentle back-and-forth going as long as they enjoy it, letting them set the pace. Some rounds they will keep it, and that is fine.
  6. Stop when your baby loses interest or fusses.

What you need

  • Graspable object

Signs it is working

Your baby takes the object and, over time, releases it back into your waiting hand. A back-and-forth rhythm builds and they show pleasure in the exchange: smiling, looking, offering. They begin to initiate giving on their own.

If it is not quite clicking

Baby will not let go: That is developmentally normal; do not tug: offer a second identical object to trade, or simply wait and try again later. Baby loses interest: Make the return livelier (a little "thank you!" each time) or switch objects. Baby throws rather than hands it over: Treat it lightly as part of the game; deliberate giving comes with time.

Make it yours

Younger, around 6-7 months: Focus on offering and taking; releasing back comes later, so accept one-way handing at first. Older, 10 months and up: Add a simple container to drop the object into and take out, or pass between two adults so the baby watches the turns. No special object: Any single safe household item larger than 5cm works; the exchange, not the object, is the point.

Try this with your child.

Tell PLAI™ about your child and this moment. It shapes the activity to fit.

Try it in the app