Little routines. Big high paws.

Choose one ordinary moment

Start with something you already do, such as getting ready to draw or putting blocks away. Pick a calm time to try the idea together. A grown-up can draw three large pictures on one sheet: a crayon, a box and a waving hand. Explain the little story: first we draw, then we put the crayons in the box, then we wave goodbye to them. Keep your actual family routine in charge of the plan.

Let Bouncer be a pretend helper

You can imagine that Bouncer is wondering which picture comes next. Point to the first drawing and invite your child to show what is happening now. When you move on, return to the page together. Use a simple spoken cue, such as “The crayons are going home to their box.” There is no need to invent a long performance or keep your child entertained through every step. One playful moment can be enough.

Ages 2–3: make the plan smaller

Try two pictures instead of three: play and put away. Point to each one while saying its name. Offer a choice inside the next step, such as which large block to put away first. Do the action alongside your child rather than waiting for them to manage the whole job. If the picture plan feels like one more thing to deal with, set it aside and use the familiar words you normally use.

Ages 4–6: let your child be the planner

Invite your child to draw or describe the steps for a little activity. They might choose a book, find a comfortable spot and return the book afterward. Ask whether anything is missing, then try the plan together. They can move a finger along the pictures to show where you are. When plans change, add a simple drawing or say what changed; the page does not have to be finished or neat.

Make a tiny tidy-up story

Give a few large toys a pretend destination: blocks go to the building station and soft animals go to their resting place. Take turns carrying one item or pointing to where it belongs. Leave practical limits with the grown-up: what needs doing, which items are safe to move and when it is time to stop. Avoid races, countdown pressure or prizes for being fastest. If someone is tired, help finish together and save the story for another day.

Connect, then take it EZ

Edmund and Bouncer’s stories give families familiar ideas about trying together and helping a friend. Watch The Friendly Halloween Helpers on YouTube with a grown-up, or visit the website’s Little Block Builders for a shared building moment. Then choose a routine that suits your own home. Finish with a little wave, an air high paw or a quiet thank-you if your child wants one.

Grown-up questions