Plan, Do, Review Playtime

A simple three-part play routine where your child says what they want to play, plays it, then tells you what happened. The saying-first and telling-after are the whole point; the play in the middle is the child's own.

How to do it

1. Before free play, sit with your child and ask what they want to do. Keep it short by asking "What are you going to play?"
2. Let them answer in their own words. A gesture, one word, or a full sentence all count. Repeat it back so they hear their own plan.
3. Step back and let them play their plan however it unfolds. It is fine if the play drifts somewhere else.
4. When they finish or reach a natural pause, ask what they did. Listen without correcting or quizzing.
5. Reflect one thing back that you noticed, then let the routine close.

Make it yours

Younger, 2-3 years: Accept a single word or a point as the plan, and keep the review to one question. Older, 5-6 years: Let them plan two or three steps and draw a quick plan first if they want. Siblings: Each child says their own plan, then plays separately or together.